She spent last week undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation at a clinic in Finland.
But it seems that for Russia’s Julia Samoylova there’s no break when it comes to controversy and the ongoing dispute as to whether she should or shouldn’t be allowed to enter Ukraine for Eurovision 2017.
On Monday the Interfax news agency reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has drafted the necessary paperwork to prohibit the 27-year-old from entering the country — though their final decision is still pending.
According to the news service, Vasyl Hrytsak — the head of the SSU — said:
“At the moment, the decision to ban her entry has not yet been made, but I will reveal a secret — the relevant document has already been prepared.”
As Deutsche Welle previously reported, Samoylova performed in the Crimean city of Kerch in 2015 — more than a year after Russia annexed the territory.
That’s prompted the Ukrainian security services to investigate whether that should rule her ineligible to enter the country.
Writing on Facebook, SBU spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska said the security services will “study the question and take a balanced decision on her entry into Ukraine.”
Now Hrystak has said that her potential ban goes far beyond her performance in the disputed territory.
“The law should be one for all — she did not just visit Crimea, she also left comments on social networks, where she spoke about Ukraine, its authorities and its course for Euro-Atlantic integration. My own position is clear: I think she should not come to Ukraine.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shot back, saying that the country’s contestant will not be replaced.
“I do not know about the decision of our organizers, but, as far as I understand, there is no such option as a replacement,” he said.
Julia lives with spinal muscular atrophy — a neuromuscular disorder causing muscle wastage.
Some have suggested that Russia’s selection is a move to mitigate potential booing — a threat Russia has faced for several years.
Others believe choosing her is a deliberate “provocation” against Ukraine. For Ukraine to ban a singer with a disability would be counter to the “Celebrate Diversity” slogan of this year’s Eurovision and would be widely perceived as cruel and insensitive.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied the suggestion that Julia’s selection was meant to provoke this year’s hosts.
According to the TASS news agency, he told reporters: “I would not use such words as provocation, because it is a TV channel’s choice. I don’t see any provocation. Almost everybody was in Crimea, there is hardly anyone who has not travelled there.”
“Undoubtedly, we would like to avoid politicising the Eurovision contest.”
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Zebb.. No they aren’t, stop lying, it is pointless. The tatars are one of the latest inhabitants of Cremea. They are not autochthones. Their history in Crimea is short, odious and bloody.
Guys, if you are interested in this topic you can always find the information in a reputable encyclopedia. Don’t listen to zebbs.
@Zebb
Crimea in its history has been repeatedly conquered and managed by different nations and states. In the early history it was owned by Greeks, Goths, Huns, Bulgarians, Khazars, Kievan Rus, Byzantium, Kipchaks, Ottomans, Mongols and the Golden Horde. The thirteenth century. of Crimea held in Venice and Genoa, after the Crimean Khanate existed here, who went to the Ottoman Empire. Russia Crimea ruled from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. During World War II the Germans occupied.
@Tom “Crimean tatars are also non-indigenous”. They perfectly are as their nation, culture and language dialects formed in early and mid centuries from mixture of steppe’s non-slavic tribes, mountain’s core tribes (tatlars and goths’ ancestors) and southern european colonisers (bysanthians, oguz-turks, ellin greeks, etc.). There’s no this type of language anywhere. Even recent russian scientists proove that and that’s way they called by that name 🙂 That mess about Stalin’s decision (which have been worked out by lots of comitets and another politicians) you wrote – dude, all deportation acts were abolished and the rights of ethnic minorities were gradually… Read more »
Julia Samoilova has been banned 🙁
Terrible decision.
It’s official. Julia Samoilova has been banned ????
Terrible decision.
Anyway, it was quite obvious that Ukraine could (would) ban any Russian representative this year, because officially current laws in Russia and Ukraine contradict each other. So even if you are fine in terms of Ukraine, then you are not fine in terms of Russia, and opposite. That’s why European Broadcast Union should exclude any political judgement. And if the winning country has some issues with other represented country, then either it has to deal with it and let any chosen singer to participate (if it’s fine according to Eurovision rules), or it has to decline an opportunity to host… Read more »
I suppose, being Russians, we should accept Robbie Williams proposal to participate at the Eurovision on behalf of our country =)
@henning
What is your morality if you think that the opinion is paid? Do you think that in this world everything is bought and sold?
@Zebb
Crimean tatars are also non-indigenous, they conquered the Crimean lands, murdered indigenous peoples who lived in Crimea.
After the war, Stalin deported the tatars, because majority their participated with the fascist Germany, Stalin them punished, cruelly, for warfare together with fascists answered all the tatars, none failed to elaborate on guilty or not, families punished.
@Andrea Ionut
Georgia 2009 was asked by EBU to change the title, and because refused, EBU banned Georgia, not Russia.
Surely Ukraine can’t ban specific artists after they have been selected and still host the contest?
Otherwise what is to stop a country banning their close competition.
What if in 2012 Azerbaijan (4th) banned Sweden, Russia and Serbia in advance?
@ Julie
Please! Really? Have you forgotten that the Russians censored the Georgian song in 2009?… Wasn’t that a dangerous precedent? Let’s stop the hypocrisy, please!
So amazed of completely inability of EBU to handle whole this situation.
lol @ all the pro-Russian commenters like Tom who are paid for by the government. So obvious, especially when he lies and says “I am from Western countries”.
@Julia and Co. Speaking about referendum, wishes and beloved history: There’re mostly russian and converted ukrainian colonisers that voted in referendum. They were coming from russian territories during 19 and 20ct until they became a majority. 1793 – 87% of population in Crimea – crimean tatars. 1921 – only approx. 15% of population are crimean tatars, who faced then famine after civil war has ended. When Crimea was annexed by Catherine II declared manifest in 1783, lands of crimean tatars were given to russian richiest people that caused migration of nation’s core, tats (tatlar). And just 5 years before that,… Read more »
Lol, fulfilling her dream. That was quite hilarious.
There are other ways to fulfill a dream. She’s already fiulfilled many of them. Competing at ESC isn’t a right. If she gets banned she can perrform in other places
We should feel sorry for her but not for being potentially banned. We should feel sorry for her for being used by a country as a way of explotation, to make a statement. Disabled people are people too, exploting them like this to push an agenda is shameful and more hurtful than any ban would do
@Nika: whether they like it or not, it’s certainly one way of attaining some amicable agreement, but that would be the extreme. It’s a suggestion. Not that it’s going to happen anyway. The EBU should give both countries an ultimatum: settle your differences over this matter quickly or other “options” will be considered!
@Tom – ”Russia fight for the children, for their nice childhood without a penis and vagina, that they did not receive the information, which would violate their small brains, psyche. Give childhood for kids! Thirdly, I am from the EU countries, but I agree with the Russian moral rules.” Agree with you, children have the right to live an innocent childhood without theories like Loreen’s one that says love is love and that she can fall in love with man or woman because is just love. Was Loreen born that way? Was Mans born that way when he said that… Read more »
The EBU allowed a country at WAR to host a competition. That’s pretty crazy. Are we really shocked?
Nothing new … Dumb rural Ukrainian mentality.
I think it’s stupid this blacklist and ban even exist. It was a political move to introduce it to begin with. Crimea has music festivals and has been a tourist destination for Russians even when it was Ukraine. In keeping with the spirit of Eurovision, such a ban shouldn’t exist. Anyway, I doubt EBU will allow it without fining Ukraine for breaking the spirit of Eurovision (as they did with Armenia in 2012). Therefore, this is just provocation and nothing more. But I do fear the Russian singer will be mistreated by their host during their stay.
@Denis What is the issue you ask? -The issue is that, at the end of the day, Ukraine is barring a woman from fulfilling her dream, a woman who has faced discrimination and adversity her whole life. No matter how you spin it, no matter how much vitriol you spread about Russia’s motive, this does not look good, whether you look at it from the PR, political, or moral perspective. -The issue is that Ukraine brought this upon themselves with their politicized entry last year. The issue is that, upon strong chance of Lazarev winning, Ukraine huffed and puffed and… Read more »
Has EBU come out with a statement, yet? I thought by now they must have taken an action. Aren’t they all about not mixing Eurovision ‘SONG’ contest and politics.
This is even interesting than any other soap operas. 🙂
@Donna Vey
First, what gay men, as they relate to children? Russian gays living freely, no one does not restrict their rights. Second, Russia fight for the children, for their nice childhood without a penis and vagina, that they did not receive the information, which would violate their small brains, psyche. Give childhood for kids! Thirdly, I am from the EU countries, but I agree with the Russian moral rules.
@Denis. Crimea is irrevocably Russian territory whether you accept it or not. There is not a single Russian artist who’s never been to Crimea. So what law was broken when Julia entered it? Russia was aware of all rules this year and the year before and many years before that and had never broken them. Russia chose to participate this year as many years in a row before this but why is it the 1st year when the problem arised? Try and answer to yourself. Who provocated tension the previous year – Russia or Ukraine? Who willingly agreed to take… Read more »
@Tom: “do it how you want in your country, what you are lend to other countries with teachings.”
Tom, you reject Ukrainian law and rules but demand that we respect your support of Russia’s anti-gay bill.
Do you accept this is hypocritical?
Enough.
@Denis
You agree to anti-democratic laws of Ukraine?
Again, what’s the issue? If you break the law then deal with the consequences. Any country that choose to participate should be aware of the rules and laws.in the country they are visiting. This is something EBU can’t resolve, because the law is above a contest that doesn’t matter in the long run. And no one gets invited to ESC(apart from Australia). You choose to participate and pay a fee to do so. A better question why Russia chose to compete in a country they are occupying? Any decent country would sit it out this year. Russia knew that by… Read more »
Anton Herashchenko, advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: “One can not bring Julia Samoilova to responsibility for the fact that she entered the Crimea, and do not pay attention to the actions of others at the same time. It will be unfair. If a participant from Armenia (Artsvik Harutyunyan) has been to Crimea, it will be considered thoroughly.”
Diana Gurtskaya (Eurovision 2008, Georgia): “I believe that this is illegal, wrong. If you constantly declare that “Eurovision” is a song contest without politics, this should be followed. I believe that Russia has fulfilled all the requirements in relation to the competition. I think that such attitude towards Julia Samoilova as a performer is absolutely wrong. There may be conflicts between the countries, but it does not mean that someone can prohibit the performer from singing in the contest. Julia can represent the country perfectly, she sings very well, she has a very good song. This is what we should… Read more »
The man told his opinion, against him sanctions, the threat of a prison? This is a democracy, to think, to speak as directed, must be one truht? Europe, where your democracy, where freedom of speech, where the freedom to act according to conscience?
P.S. While I could write an entire dissertation about the subject of repressed sexual orientation as a teenager, I don’t see what it has to do with this Eurovision entry. But feel free to discuss what you like anyway. 🙂
@DonnaVey: Yes I read that too (about Germany). It’s an obvious choice – let’s see what happens. I wish Ukraine all the best and hope things get sorted out.
@Donna Vey
Children have the right to be protected from the negative information, when they become adults and will choose.
@Charles. Russia was just intended to participate in the musical contest as usual. Julia was not dragged in anything. She was a Russian contestant without any special message. You sd be happy for Julia if she is allowed to participate…. though this has already been spoiled…
@Donna Vey
What sexual orientation are you speaking about in terms of children under 15 years old?
@Tom: Fredom to express your sexual orientation is covered by the UN asa human right. Cultural relativism is irrelevant.
In a country where a civil war, in which the Ukrainian army killed or maimed thousands of civilians, non-democratic country should not take place at all Eurovision, have fun and sing is immoral.
Thanks Russia for having such a blast watching this controversy roll by in front of our eyes … you wanted this from the start …. and now you’re getting what you wanted … and thanks Ukraine for taking part of it and making yourself look even worse than Russia … What was supposed to be a music contest … again … it’s all about everything else … I feel sorry for Yulia who should have never been dragged into this THIS WAY. Utterly disrespectful towards herself and the message she carries with her.
@Donna Vey
What information about the perversions for children. Children should be protected from bad information. An adult and not a child has to deal with sexual issues, children playing with cars, dolls, but not the penis and vagina.
Do not wish that the whole world adopt Western immoral rules. You love it, do it how you want in your country, what you are lend to other countries with teachings.
@PurpleMask: come on now. If Australia wins, it does not make an obligatory “nomination” that compels another country to host. If the UK had no desire to host for Australia, then the UK would not host. Of course the issue of hosting for Australia would be passed through the Reference Group.
Australian media already reported last year that they’d be most likely to work with German broadcasters.
The Reference Group probably has a good plan in place. I wonder if wiwibloggs could make a FOI request for this information.
@blondboybc And what is the purpose? Do you really expect BOTH parties locked in the room to be afraid of the contest being transferred to another place? There will be only one party to be afraid of it but the other one will just have fun.
@DonnaVey: Haha, indeed! Fantastic, I would love to go to Geneva; I have never been there! 🙂
I also forgot to mention that the UK had to be reasonably prepared to host this year in case Dami Im had won for Australia and nominated us (but most fans know that already).
“Reluctant but prepared” is the attitude it seems. 🙂
The ideal outcome would be that Ukraine could host peacefully, without any “issues.” We can but hope and dream.
For UK: Told by BBC press. For The Netherlands: General press over the past few years – they kept saying they were ready to host over the past few years (if they won). I see no reason why that should change now. Also at the UK National Final I did ask people what would happen if Lucie Jones won, and mostly there was a lot of hesitation but UK could do it if required – but someone there told me “it could be passed onto The Netherlands or Belgium; they’ve wanted to host it for a while.” The point is,… Read more »
@PurpleMask:
Geneva is not a “theoretical location to solve international disputes”, it is actual location where this takes place 😉
So many UN agency HQ are there, amongst others, including the Red Cross, WHO, and our very own EBU.
Not to mention…the Geneva Convention 🙂
@”schoolboy”: If you think the anti-gay bill is designed to “protect the right of children to make their own decision”, how can they ‘make a decision’ without all sides of information? Without information, they are not making an informed decision but being dictated to. Only the state is making the decision, a moral decision that homosexuality should not be encouraged in children. The main problem there is that being gay is not a decision. Restricting people from having information doesn’t prevent the development of sexual orientation, it restricts the development of their education and open-mindedness. Do you think gay men… Read more »
Actually Geneva, Switzerland would theoretically be the perfect location to solve international disputes! 😀 Haha.
@Purple Mask: told by whom?