Tensions are rising in Moscow because of Eurovision. Today Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov to discuss why Azerbaijan did not give Russia any points during the Grand Final, an issue that has raised a lot of eyebrows, including those of the Azerbaijani president.

It is an unprecedented step that shows how serious Russia takes the pan-European contest. Azerbaijan’s foreign minister informed the Russian minister that, as we previously reported, the country’s mobile phone operators confirmed that Dina Garipova’s song “What If” came second in the televote, which, combined with a good jury vote, would have given her 10 points. However, when the announcement was made on live television on Saturday night, Russia received zero points from Azerbaijan.

Lavrov called this incident “outrageous” and even went on to say that the points were “stolen” from Garipova. Although the 10 points would not have made any difference (Russia finished fifth on Saturday, 17 points behind Norway), Moscow wants this issue investigated by the European Broadcasting Union. However, the EBU has stated that the combination of televotes and jury votes, each bearing a 50% influence on the outcome, did not result in a top 10 position for Russia in the overall result from Azerbaijan.

If the Azerbaijani jury had ranked Russia very low, as obviously was the case in Italy with the Romanian contestant, then the nul points would be a reasonable, although dubious explanation. However, the chairman of the Azerbaijani national television was quoted by Azeri News Agency 1News.az saying that Russia got top marks from the jury. He even pointed the finger at Germany, where Digame, the company in charge with counting the votes, is based.

Daughter Belarus got zero points from Mother Russia
Daughter Belarus got zero points from Mama Russia

Tensions are also rising in Minsk, although president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is appealing to calm. Belarusian Telegraph Agency reports that the president claims that Russia could not have gotten zero points to Belarus, who, in turn, gave 8 points to Russia. In a meeting with Belarussian representative Alyona Lanskaya, he consoled her publicly:

I know what you feel, Alyona, about the way Russia voted. You can take these 12 points, not less. This demonstrates how politicized and even falsified this contest is. Those who read news have probably learnt about a scandal around the falsification of voting results that broke out in one of the participating states.

Addressing a group of music students at the same meeting, Alexander Lukashenko tried to calm the waters:

You should take it easy, just listen and enjoy the music and performers. I do not want to cast a doubt and question the winning entry. Indeed, the girl from Denmark was very good and her performance was great. However, our girl was just as good. Therefore, I suggest we should stay cool and calm regarding such voting results.

So, more and more countries are unhappy with the new voting rules and irregularities. Nevertheless, we have a feeling that we are barely scratching the surface of what seems to be the most contended Eurovision in recent memory. We’ll keep you posted.

Photos credit: Eurovision.tv

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Wilhelmina
10 years ago

Wow! Thank you! I always needed to write on my blog something
like that. Can I implement a portion of your post to my site?

MF
MF
10 years ago

@ 020Nick… I leave overseas, so I don’t vote…My home country is not one of the former USSR countries and I don’t agree with neighbor voting. My point was that it’s easier (and hypocritical) to accuse only some countries of this. Nordic countries do the same…And btw, it would have been difficult for Netherlands and Belgium to award each other 12 points every year as they rarely made the final in the last 10 years…And Netherlands mainly because it did not send good songs…Yes, Belgium, Switzerland, San Marino and few others don’t have a lot of support and sometimes they… Read more »

claudia
claudia
10 years ago

for me cezar was the real winner of eurovision for three reasons: the best voice, the best song, the best show

020Nick
020Nick
10 years ago

@ MF So the fact that The Netherlands and Belgium awarded each other with 12 points (Which is like the first time EVER), does forbid us to have the right to be critical about the democracy in the former USSR countries? As if Gert is personally responsable for those 12 points, come on! Maybe, just once.. we thought.. hey.. here is an oppertunity… to do just for once what others already do for 20 years.. And come on.. we only have each other.. the NEtherlands and Belgium.. no otehr neighbours so that one time “douze points” did not really kill… Read more »

Eurovisio
Eurovisio
10 years ago

AlAlekoff, there are more important things than funding Eurovision. Both Russia and Azerbaijan are very rich countried because of natural resources but so many people have lowest quality of life. Spend it on your people then you will get respect.

AlvaRito
AlvaRito
10 years ago

Here is where it shows what a long time been saying that the ratings are a fraud, much politicking. I hope that with the passage of time will disappear all eurovision fraud because competition makes him a very uninteresting to many countries. No equal opportunities to all countries. If Russia or Azerbaijan would have been the song “with you until the end” (Spain) insurance policy had been in the Top 15, because points are always assured of countries, whether good or not your song. Spanish I know as I am, I’ll see never made ??a final in Madrid, as we… Read more »

Lightningbryce
Lightningbryce
10 years ago

I demand, nay EXPECT, that Danish Primeminister Helle Thorning-Schmidt immediately start an investigation into the reason for Norway dissing Denmark by only awarding 7 points. After all, Denmark once ruled that hillbilly country. Where alcohol is far from beng free, I hasten to add.

Inge
Inge
10 years ago

You would think those ministers have better things to do, especially in countries like that..

Mariska
Mariska
10 years ago

Is this for real? Presidents and foreign ministers discussing point given at the Eurovision Song Contest? I can’t believe it, don’t they have more pressing matters to deal with?

Harriet Krohn
Harriet Krohn
10 years ago

Block voting is just as strong, if not stronger, in the Nordics. Every single nordic country awarded another of the nordic countries 12 points (Iceland –> Denmark, Norway –> Sweden (!), Denmark, Finland and Sweden –> Norway). Now these 5 have extremely strong ties, culturally and linguistically as well as historically and economically, but it’s still quite blatant block voting. I think we westerners should be careful when pointing our fingers. And German fans like to complain about not receiving more points from our neighbours – you can’t accuse others of doing it when you secretly want it for yourself,… Read more »

Montenegro votes rigged as well

Montenegro delegation sent a request to Eurovision officials asking them to reveal the structure of votes in the final. The reason is that they gave Ukraine 12 points in the Semi-final. The jury revealed they gave Ukraine 12 points in the final as well. Most SMS votes went to Ukraine but Ukraine got in the end… ZERO points. They haven’t received an answer yet.

Source: http://www.portalanalitika.me/drustvo/tema/101752-eurosong-sporno-sabiranje-pobuuje-sumnje-nepoznata-struktura-glasova-publike-iz-crne-gore.html/

Alexander
Alexander
10 years ago

@Gert I certainly hope countries boycott the contest if things continue this way.

MF
MF
10 years ago

@ Gert: As much as I hate the former USSR countries voting between themselves, let’s not say they are the only offenders. You know very well that Netherlands and Belgium awarded each other 12 points this year, so do you want to convince us they had the best 2 songs from the contest?

guido
guido
10 years ago

I think military intervention is the only answer..and in fact Holland should do the same with Germany for their shameless 0 points!!

Gert
10 years ago

I personally think……the time has come Jon Ola Sandt reads the politicians from Russia, Azerbaijan and Belarus a lesson what Eurovision is all about. Because the latter countries are now shamelessly confirming that they want a contest full of neighbouring voting in which the quality of songs aren’t judged anymore.

Have we arrived at a moment in Eurovision history, like back in 1970? When suddenly the total number of finalists in Amsterdam was a mere 12 countries? Due to several countries boycotting the contest?

020Nick
020Nick
10 years ago

a cultural diference?? REALLY???
ThatRussian song could be a Kelly Clarkson reject for all I know
The Farid song.. How much Azeri culture was there to be foind in that song?? Really
These songs are just as crap as the “So called western crap”you are talking about..

For me the winners of the evening were Hungary, Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands

Here we go about democracy again...

David Thielen must know a lot about unfair elections since he lives in US where they pick Mister Presidente with electoral votes… Do we all remember democratically elected war criminal George Bush Junior? Don’t give us lecture about democracy here David since you live in banana republic and this is Europe, the birthplace of democracy.

AlAlekoff
AlAlekoff
10 years ago

To ban countries? Who the hell are you to say who can participate and who can’t? Without countries like Russia and Azerbaijan, Eurovision will not have the funds to exist! How bigoted you have to be to call something POLITICAL when it is obviously CULTURAL. The ignorant western Europo-trash-lovers can never realise that countries in the East are basically like counties in England and of course they will support each other. Blame your own politicians for segregating the entire East after the wars for fear of an Eastern Superpower. And one more thing – if you don’t like Eastern countries… Read more »

David Thielen
10 years ago

Keep in mind that a free & fair election is a foreign concept in these countries. This has got to be very weird for them – not being able to set the final vote totals.

Z24
Z24
10 years ago

Off topic: Monetta may return for San Marino AGAIN (or at least there’s apparently a campaign for it)

http://www.eurofestival.ws/2013/05/21/esc-2014-san-marino-disposti-a-riconfermare-la-monett/?fb_source=pubv1

Retarded "ban them" comments are just L-o-L

More sheeple comments. Bring on your A-game Eurovision zombies. Denmark’s win has to be defended at all costs! Now I go feed my brain with some more Universal Music garbage and Emmelie’s crap.

020Nick
020Nick
10 years ago

Eurovision shouldn; t be about politics.. It shoulve been about the songs..
Even if Russia had ten points.. it is obviously not because the Azeri think it is a nice song but because it is a nice country..
All the more reason to ban these countries. they ruined euovision for me.

Joyces
Joyces
10 years ago

They should ban them from eurovision! This is so stupid…

No one in this world would miss Jim Chang

I don’t think it’s ridiculous considering the amount of money that’s in the game. Further more, this is just a payback time for Eastern Villains to call out democratic counterparts in the West on their obvious bullshit. Where’s the transparency now?

Jim Chang
Jim Chang
10 years ago

Honestly, this is absolutely ridiculous. High ranking politicans crying over Eurovision- are you kidding me? I think their western callegues are probably making fun of them. These are the idiots we have trusted with running the world. If Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan are unhappy and believe that Eurovision is corrupt then they should withdraw from the contest altogether. I assure you, not too many people will miss these countries.