They came in a distant second to Sweden's Loreen and her song "Euphoria." It may have been Sweden's biggest victory over Russia since 1700 at the battle of Narva — which probably didn't feature the special effects, zooming cameras and relentless passion that define Eurovision.
Euphoria has already topped the charts in five countries, including Sweden and neighbouring Finland. Norway had the dubious honour of last place.
Bagpipes, blindfolds and water fountains all featured in a typically extravagant contest, as well as a celebrated group of Russian pensioners, who performed Party for Everyone, a cross between a traditional folk tune and a dance track, to rapturous applause.
Ireland, who were represented by Jedward for the second year in a row, came 19th - with 46 points - an unexpected slump on their previous performance in 2011, which saw them come eighth.
Their performance of pop track Waterline closed with the 20-year-old Grimes twins jumping into a fountain in the middle of the stage.
This is an annual evening devoted to pop music, in all its excess. The Jedward twins from Ireland wore knight-in-shining-armor-meets-Buck-Rogers outfits. Epaulettes (of the John Paul Jones variety) popped up more than once. The Turks had a nautical theme, with vaguely Japanese-looking waves on the screen behind them, an occasional anchor popping up, and male dancers in capes who formed a boat at one point. ("Hope this lot go to Somalia with their ship," read one tweet.)
Sweden has won the Eurovision Song Contest.
Bookies favourite 28-year-old Loreen topped the leader board with 372 points for her club hit ‘Euphoria’, which has already reached number one in the charts back home.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was like everything just stopped. And still, I can’t really believe it. It will take me a couple of hours before I do,” said the former Swedish Idol winner.
There was a collective sigh of relief from many European countries when Sweden took the crown on Saturday night. The triumph means Stockholm will arrange next year’s song contest.
Though normally an honour for the winning nation, it’s seen as an unnecessary expense for some cash-strapped countries in these austere times.
Assange shot to fame earlier that same year when WikiLeaks enraged Washington by leaking thousands of secret US documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After he was arrested in London in December 2010 he spent more than a week in jail before being freed to live under strict bail conditions amounting to virtual house arrest.
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