Last week the EBU accidentally published its flag policy and banned flags list. The rules allow for “official national flags of the 42 participating countries (preferred) as well as the flags of countries that have recently taken part (e.g. Turkey, Portugal, Romania) and official national flags of other countries recognised as Members of the United Nations.”

Naturally those hailing from regions that are not on the approved list have expressed a distaste for the document, which explicitly bans flags from Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh, Palestine, Basque country and Crimea.

ebu banned flags 2

Joining the chorus of discontent is the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Vyacheslav Kirilenko.

“The Crimean Tatar flag was forbidden in Eurovision. So is it that the administration of Eurovision accepts the annexation of Crimea?! Then it’s “Russiavision”!”

Some fans of Jamala, who will sing her song “1944” about the Crimean Tatar deportation from Crimea to Central Asia, will be particularly disappointed.

In a Ukrainian interview, Jamala’s PR director said that one of Jamala’s fan had made her a Crimean Tatar flag and hoped the singer would present it during the performance.

“But we wrote her a letter that it can’t be done due to the contest’s regulations,” he said.

Follow all our Ukraine Eurovision news here:

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Charles
Charles
7 years ago

@Anton: Your LGBT twisted order?? Wow … you’re definitively a Russian pro-ego-above-all-and-everybody-regardless-music-quality. I wonder if you have a sexy poster of Stalin in your bedroom wall to worship every day and sing Prince’s “Kiss” daily? Just wondering …

David
David
7 years ago

@mocosuburbian
Chechen flag is waving proudly over the Palace of the President of Chechnya. You are so idiot if you think that Chechens want to be independent from Russia. The Cechnya wars were between Russian Federation (including Chechnya) and Islamic terrorists financed by Saudi Arabia who were trying to proclaim an Arabian Khalifate in North Caucasus. Go learn history. You can bring to the arena each of the 22 flags of the Russian republics. In 2012 Buranovskye Babushki were waving their national Udmurt flag of Udmurtia…..IDIOT!

mawnck
mawnck
7 years ago

The Trans Pride flag is officially banned according to the EBU’s YouTube account. THE TRANS PRIDE FLAG.

Clearly they haven’t thought any of this out at all. Do they ever?

James
James
7 years ago

@Eugene, Yes I just don’t understand it. Like I said , I totally support the idea of just having the 42 countries (maybe also including Romania this year, because many Romanians had already booked to go there), and no others. Why also include the entire 190 or so flags of the UN countries when they have no relevance to the contest. Just exclude everyone who is not a participant, then you can avoid all political messes and not look you are supporting or not supporting particularly groups. I am Welsh and I love seeing the Welsh flag being flown (particularly… Read more »

Amor A
Amor A
7 years ago

I don’t think the EBU is criminalizing the Crimean flag. I think they just do not want to be involved with any politics or catch any heat. So the best thing to do is just allow the flags of the countries participating or who have participated. So the nations listed in that tweet will still be blocked. As they are not participating and are not a part of the UN.

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

@Anton, what I’m supposed to do to free you from me? don’t cross red line and see if it will help you to be freed. even my cat knows how to behave or how to damage things without being caught on spot, you as a human should know what you’re doing wrong and how to behave. don’t you? behave. being a Russian is not an excuse to be rude manipulative liar “Crimea is not an independent state and was it only one day” – it’s a lie! read about Crimean Khahanate – the longest-lived of the Turkic khanates that succeeded… Read more »

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
7 years ago

Hey, Mr Prime Minister, don’t upset them or you will be disqualified. They’re like a kid when he gets upset at a football game with friends, they are taking their ball and go home. Nice moves this year EBU, you’re getting a very lovely image!

David Who
David Who
7 years ago

Personal attacks are happening again. You know who you are. Please stop it now. Thank you.

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

oxyk
Like I said free me from yourself.

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

@James, you make me smile 😉 greeting Dami Im with North Korean flags would be something she’ll hate to experience being Korean (I assume from South Korea?)

@Anton, why don’t calm down and learn the difference between dump and dumb. I’ll help you with that. read my lips: You’re about to be dumped by our community because you’re too dumb to stick to discussion. got it now?

James
James
7 years ago

The policy has been updated and published, but while it no longer gives specific examples it still says that all flags not from current or recent countries, or on the UN list are banned. This would still include the previous examples given. It doesn’t make it any better. According to this still no flags even from Wales or Scotland would be allowed. I wouldn’t mind if they specifically stated only the 42 countries.. that makes absolute sense. But to suggest we can’t wave Welsh flags for the United Kingdom but we can wave the flag of North Korea instead? It’s… Read more »

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

Charles
Are you dump? I said dont vote for Russian songs if you dont like it!

The magority decides who to win the Eurovision. It is the real democracy and not like your LGBT twisted order, the minority just can not win! THE MAJORITY DECIDES. PERIOD.

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

EBU uploaded updated flag policy. Now it does not use any icons of flags, just wording
http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/2016/ESC2016_flagpolicy.pdf

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

it is a pretty stupid ban
given the list I could carry a Chechen flag into the Globen and nobody would care

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

@Anton: Because you do love all the Russian entries and believe in their “authentic” musical purpose? Right … Maybe you should support a true Russiavision where everybody licks the boots of Moscow to get a chance to perform in Russia … everybody which used to be part of your long-missed URSS. The ego of Russia to feel more important than everybody else is just like watching a Kim Kardashian reality crap episode … but with a difference – Russia is far more dangerous. @EugeneESCUK: I would agree with Ovidiu taking part to compensate the crap he was under with no… Read more »

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

@Whocares, I’m sorry for not being clear. I’m not saying that you’re 100% troll, and I’m glad you’re not one of them (you know the situation and who usually brings hollywars and distorted opinion in masses). Facebook, twitter and other sm tools just give an idea (and often wrong one – because if trolls will start to work on their theme, you’ll see wrong picture). Facebook is in my banned list because they banned me for speaking Ukrainian and for using common words that is neutral in Ukrainian but offensive in Russian language. since then I’m not going to consider… Read more »

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

Here is an example of why I always believed that flags used in Eurovision – though used to support the countries participating – are actually the very first gesture of bringing politics into the music competition. That may not be the intention .. but comes the consequence … and controversial stuff like the Ukraine vs Russia is only one example of such bs. What still is hypocritical? They will still give each points despite all the hatred … Guess that Armenia and Azerbaijan are a bit more (sadly) coherent when it comes to the mix between politics and Eurovision –… Read more »

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

If you dont like Russian songs just dont vote for them! Stop crying like babies!

saschee
saschee
7 years ago

the sad part is … this man is right. Russia can send a man just burping and still make top 5… so unfair. I don’t get why all the countries vote for Russia always so well, they send fake bland songs year after year

Whocares
Whocares
7 years ago

@oxyk I’m not sure of that, but if you written about me (“Ukrainian who calculates public mood in vice PM twitter (how you did that? there’s no stats to show anything)”), you are wrong. Firstly, you should read my message a little bit closer, i said Facebook, and I read comments of different news sources, numbers are just rounded. That’s mine opinion, and I told it. If you consider me being russian troll, you are wrong. Can you accept the fact that in one country people can live with different thoughts and points of view? If you written not about… Read more »

jPod
jPod
7 years ago

Why aren’t you reporting about the potential terrorist attack on the arena?

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

what a Russian troll fiesta! “Crimean native who loves to live without electricity, water and work opportunities and does not want to live in Ukraine”, “Ukrainian who calculates public mood in vice PM twitter (how you did that? there’s no stats to show anything)”, other 5 species of Russians, even Niko troll from youtube thrown at this topic?
Russians live news from Ukraine, they always all over it, even if their house is on fire, they will burn while reading news from Ukraine 🙂

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

@elis, that’s true. Russian songs heavily rotated in all ex-soviet countries, even bad weak songs get a spot. Therefore if Russia will send weak act, but known by audience from their older songs, they can get points because people get used to it and feel like “oh, I know his/her songs, they are OK, why not vote? I don’t know these European singers, I’ll vote for a face I’m familiar with”. The same happened for our Verka Serducka who is very famous in the neighborhood as a comedian who portrays crazy Verka in his/her shows. If countries can maintain more… Read more »

AlexESC
AlexESC
7 years ago

They cant ban flags just like that! It isnt fair! Fans, we should do something!

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

Mann is the typical victim of the russophobic propaganda. Russia is never starts wars.

Manne
7 years ago

I hope Russia not gonna win for ever. They start war, and murder people. Its a evil land. I hope they ever be in ESC ANYMORE.

karminowe.usta
karminowe.usta
7 years ago

EBU took a good decision because Eurovision is song contest not political. I hope Sergey Lazarev would examine for his performance not country from he comes from. Lazarev has a good song:)

rbm
rbm
7 years ago

It’s a shame that Eurovision is becoming more and more ruined because of politics

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

I am sick of the flags and Russia vs Ukraine……. They let them sing the song, ok great I love JAMALA but they really need to shut up…Cos the way they are pushing this makes it so obnoxious now.

niko
niko
7 years ago

The document contained the flag of Luhansk (or Donetsk, don’t remember) and nobody in Russia complained. I think that people will complain about everything that even indirectly involves Russia nowadays and it gets really boring imo.

sonic0201
sonic0201
7 years ago

What @Robyn Gallagher said, plus the flag of the EU.
There is no need of using any other flag than the flags of competing countries, + the EU flag. Or might as well just don’t allow flags at all.

Nicky91
Nicky91
7 years ago

@Rock Me

yeah but i think my favourites will remain the same, and we’ll also see Molly rehearsing for the first time on stage with Ira, very excited for that 🙂

also looking forward to see Argo’s rehearsal, how they perform together

and with rehearsals, we can have a better judgment i think 🙂

pavel
pavel
7 years ago

Russia has a serious approach only in terms of spending, song is so dull and cliched

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

Oh, hey guys, remember that time when the West made ESC political? Yeah…still goes.

And at present, Sweden makes the rounds.

Davit
Davit
7 years ago

First of all I don’t care what’s the point of view of the Nazi government of Ukraine. Russians were and are oppressed in Ukraine and I am happy that Crimeans decided to rejoin Russia after having been under Ukrainian control for more than half a century. Russia is a country that deserves to win ESC. It is a country which is extremely serious about the competition. Russians entries have always been interesting. This is the 20th time Russia is participating in ESC and they have been in Top-3 seven times! I like their philosophy: “It is not important to win,… Read more »

WOW
WOW
7 years ago

Correct me if I’m wrong but wasnt there the Russain flag of Luhansk in another list? Balances it out imo

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

@Bis
No. That’s why Russia is really independent state.

Whocares
Whocares
7 years ago

I’m from Ukraine and i’m ESC fan, btw, interested in politics and news. Well, I can make some conclusions. So far not all the people agree with this mister. Moreover, i would say, 40% of people (depending on FB comments) agree with this, 30% are opposite, so 30% just don’t care. But anyway, that’s right decision and 30% of disaffected are just making a holywars, so did vice prime minister.. (what a shame, I know)

Do you know all historical fact
Do you know all historical fact
7 years ago

logixc

Do you know all historical facts about Tatars from Ukraine. Many of them joint to Nazis troup from 1941 to 1944. Because that Soviet goverment decide to relocate Tatars from Ukraine.

Rock Me
Rock Me
7 years ago

@Nicky91:
Yep, boring & dated is the best description.
My favorite is Croatia because of the emotion Nina transfers, followed by Armenia, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia….Malta is also strong because it’s very modern (unlike Russia), I don’t like Spain & France that much though.
Tomorrow, when the rehearsals start, maybe some new favorites will be found.

Bis
Bis
7 years ago

Of course the majority of Russians do not care about what the rest of the world thinks. If they did, Russia would have been a civilized country by now. And the Russian elite would not see the need to send their kids to schools in the West 😉

Nicky91
Nicky91
7 years ago

@Rock Me

i agree with you, at least 5 or 6 or maybe 7 better songs than Sergey’s dated boring cliche song

the contenders for me are: Croatia, Malta, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Armenia for me, what do you think?

Rock Me
Rock Me
7 years ago

I would also like for Sergey not to reach the final or end up 10th-15th in the final but not because it’s Russia, but because I want an unexpected winner with a great song.
Last year I loved Polina and her song and while I don’t support Russian politics AT ALL I wanted that song to win.This year I think there are 5,6 better songs than Russia….

Anton
Anton
7 years ago

People of Crimea don’t care. They have made their choice. Period.

Bis
Bis
7 years ago

No country in the world recognizes Russia’s unlawful annexation of the Crimea. Period.

logixc
logixc
7 years ago

@nn
You are very wrong. 1944 isnot political song. You maybe dont want to admit historical facts but thats up to you.

David Who
David Who
7 years ago

LOL. Wasn’t Russia going to create its own Song Contest anyhow a few years ago? Wasn’t that nick-named ‘Russiavision?’

nn
nn
7 years ago

If is Eurovision is Russavision , we will don t have Jamala political song on eurovision stage.

Nicky91
Nicky91
7 years ago

@Colin

well i would really like to see Russia not qualify to the final, but that’s not very realistic i think

and just vote for the song and act, instead of this eastern europe voting scheme

and some accuse Malta of buying YouTube views, well that’s not true, they just share their video on social media, due to lack of neighbours and it’s just promoting 🙂

Aria
Aria
7 years ago

Oh my God!!! I am from Crimea. I was born and raised there!!!! Crimea is not occupied by Russia!!!! It was the will of people!!!! give us a chance to live normal life!!! Ukraine let us go!!