Just when we thought that it was all said and done, there’s another twist in the Russia Eurovision story. Russian media now report that Russia may be disqualified from entering Eurovision 2018.
According to TASS.RU, David Goodman, a senior EBU spokesman, has said that it’s possible for the EBU to take this action. This decision can only be made, however, after this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv.
Disqualification would come on the grounds of Russia’s Channel One refusing to broadcast the 2017 contest. The broadcaster, of course, took this action following Julia Samoylova’s ban from entering Ukraine.
There’s been no decision made just yet, though. As Goodman says: “Now the EBU’s attention is focused on this year’s contest. Any decision regarding actions that can or cannot be taken in this situation will be rendered after the event itself.”
Russia has previously been banned from Eurovision for this reason. Having been relegated from the 1998 contest, Channel One attempted to return in 1999. However, they were unable to as they refused to broadcast the 1998 contest.
Channel One did indeed broadcast the 1999 contest, despite not competing. This allowed for them to return with Alsou in 2000.
The broadcaster doesn’t seem too worried, though. According to bloknot.ru, Konstantin Ernst, CEO of Channel One, has already assured the public that Julia will participate in Eurovision 2018.
Ernst also noted that the channel is losing a lot by refusing to broadcast the contest. Ernst stressed that Russia is still paying contributions to the European Broadcasting Union for membership despite not competing. Failure to pay this membership was the reason for Romania’s disqualification in 2016.
The EBU has also relaxed their rules on this topic before. For 2014, the EBU attempted to woo Turkey back to the contest by offering them a chance to return, despite not broadcasting the 2013 contest (ostensibly due to Finland’s lesbian kiss).
A poll on the Blonkot website perhaps suggests that the Russian public aren’t too bothered about a return, either. The poll asks if Eurovision is important for Russia. At the time of writing, only 7.41% of respondents supported the answer “Yes”.
What do you think about this latest issue for Russia at Eurovision? Do you think they should be allowed to return in 2018 regardless of whether they broadcast the show? Shout out your thoughts on the wiwibloggs app or in the comments section below!
Russia never wanted to join ESC 2017. They sent a singer that they knew Ukraine would never accept. Russia was the only country that did not come to Ukraine a few months ago when the accommodation was presented. Russia is only trying to make Ukraine look bad. But RUSSIA invaded Ukraine and stole its land.
A country that steals another country’s land must not be allowed in the ESC. First give back Abkhazia, South-Ossetia, Crimea and Donbass. And THEN Russia can come back to ESC. Europe does not need warrior countries.
Ridiculous! Eurovision was started to be above politics, to celebrate artistic talent and coming together, not to be a battleground for tit for tat politics. Your views are totally against what Eurovision is all about. Hold your own song contest and invite whom you want in your little world. Eurovision is for artistic spirit and talent not stupid land grab politics and retaliation. Ukraine is sadly still a very corrupt ex soviet mentality country, sadly still very backward and full of hate as this political decision shows. They and you need to elevate yourselves and learn to be adults part… Read more »
Only 7% thinks ESC is important for Russia? Please, if that poll was held in Belgium it wouldn’t get to 3%
1wxrld, didn’t this “all start” when Russia invaded Ukraine? Did you really think everything would carry on as normal after that?
All coiuntries have legitimate political issues. Ukraine’s are very grave and catastrophic mainly because of Russia, But when you are organizing an event, you cannot forbid the participants from actually taking part. Same goes for all international events. For example USA may have issues with Iran or North Korea or Syria. But when it is organizing an Olympics, it cannot say, these are countries I have issues with, so Iranian or North Korean or Syrian athletes are not allowed to take part in Olympics organized on our soil. Organizers should welcome all participants without bias or political issues. So Eurovision… Read more »
This all started with Ukraine, the organizer, banning the Russian singer Yulia Samoylova for whatever reason. This atrocious heavy handed very political behaviour of the organizer in actually having a say in what other countries can or cannot send (mixing their own politics with their role as neutral all welcoming organizers) is despicable. After this, I take their slogan “Celebrate Diversity” with a pinch of salt. It is meaningless after what they did. This ban, for whatever nationalistic reason, put their whole integrity as organizers as well as the integrity of the entire Eurovision organization into question. It reminded me… Read more »
Eurovision supposed to bring people together.., building bridges, small and fragile.., it’s okey, they are better than nothing.
Those of you who say that the countries in war should be banned, are just selfish ^%#*^^ bad people. Ever heard about empathy? No? What on Earth makes you all think that the ban would help these nations? It would only worsen the situation.
The EBU should be stricter in maintaining their own rules. ‘No politics’ is most important one. The problem is they don’t follow their own rules, otherwise they would have banned 1944 song.
“Should ban Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan.” I strongly agree with you.
It’s because you are not that clever.
If they would ban Russia, they should ban Ukraine too.
I hope none of them get banned though, just wish to see a non political contest, next year..
Ban Ukraine for the requirement to comply with the law? Bad idea. Lawyers will make money on EBU.
Banning Russin would be fair enough.
Neither they presented foul play nominating Julia not they accepted the 2 alternative options like transmitting from outside Ukraine or sendung a different artist.
@Colin: I’d ban them from BOTH–participating AND/OR hosting. Two countries participating while at war with each other bring too much tension in the arena, as exemplified by the last 3 years. Same for any country in a state of civil war.
@CookyMontza – “Again, if the EBU wants to restore sanity to the contest, add a new rule which bans any country in a state of war.”
I wouldn’t ban them from participating, but I would ban them from hosting. Next time a country which is at war (with another country or within itself) wins the contest, the runner-up hosts.
The rule that you have to show the previous year’s contest to compete in the next contest has been gone for years now. Lazy article.
You have to wonder, what if Russia had simply stayed home this year (as many believe they intended all along), yet still televised the contest without injecting drama in an effort to malign Ukraine? While they and everyone else played chess, Ukraine played poker, and Russia gambled with a bad hand, even if Ukraine stays home next year or gets banned themselves.
Again, if the EBU wants to restore sanity to the contest, add a new rule which bans any country in a state of war.
Everything that we have seen in the past few years, even nearly a decade, is a misery. As we know, it’s a must to respect the laws of the other country, but Europe does not do that at all. I do not know any positive example. Crimean people voted in referendum to join to Russia. They reached it (European democracy, right?), but Europe does not recognize it. In the other hand, Kosovo self-proclaimed it’s independence. There was no any referendum. There was no any democracy in that case (Kosovo was ruined by Albanians and Slobodan Miloševi?’s regime). But Europe recognized… Read more »
Ukrainian deputy does not participate in the meetings of parliament -Rada, because the vacation in the Crimea. Ukrainians not break the law 🙂
rusnewstoday24.ru/novosti/ukraina/820-zrada-ukrainskiy-deputat-promenyal-zasedanie-v-rade-na-otdyh-v-krymu.html
I do not understand why blame Russia, the Ukraine imposes its own rules for Europe. Russia released from prison Savchenko, which killed two Russian journalists. Russia is too lenient.
I think both Ukraine and Russia should be banned untill they come up with a statement ,a shared statement, that they want to be in the contest again TOGETHER and as mutual respecting musical friends.
The case of Armenia/Azerbaijan seems minor compared to the damage Russia and Ukraine did to Eurovision.
One day the EBU sounds off critically against Ukraine’s position towards banning Yulia … now that Russia has officially withdrawn and wishes not to broadcast the show, they are warned that they won’t be able to compete next year … oh EBU even when you remind us all of the rules … one can see the cracks on yours walls … Well you needed to change Eurovision towards the end of the 90s … now this is what you get …. a big musical gay party where political catfights and dirty laundry are constantly being thrown at us viewers non-stop… Read more »
Jo, someone have already banned your brain.., your and chupacabra’s one., morons.
It was SO obvious from the start.
In Russia the word “maidan” means the most terrible thing that can happen in the world. Their mass media keep fixating on this from 2014. It would be a real pain in the ass (for them) to broadcast a (probably) successful Eurovision hosted by a country after “maidan”. So they developed a plan, how to avoid broadcasting.
As for EBU, they will not ban Russia from 2018. They already proven they have no guts for this.
No way!
The EBU will NOT ban Russia from 2018. After all, Russia is the key to getting Kazakistan and keeping Belarus, plus Russian diaspora throughout Europe tune-into the Eurovision. Thus, without Russia, Eurovision will suffer a long-term ratings decline.
As noted, Eurovision has already suffered somewhat without Turkey in the competition.
If Eurovision organized in Rusia, and Russia would behave in such a way as Ukraine, it would be a huge scandal, wrote that Russia a dictatorial country that violates human rights and so on. And Ukraine everything possible, what does, Europe is silent, everything supports and agrees with everything. Homosexuals, are you not afraid to go to Kiev, where no one will not defend your rights? Ukraine is undemocratic, because there no one has the rights.
Europe – The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors.
Another russian attempt to play the innocent victim card. Boooooooooring!
Russia should be banned indefinitely.
@BE
I think that’s the rule for prospective participants looking to make a debut. Given the circumstances around Russia’s non participation, I’d say the EBU should be fine with them participating next year even if they choose not to broadcast the contest this year. Or at least, Ingrid will be.
@ DenizNL
That’s why they won’t do it.
If they do that, Russia will probably never come back.
M_K
I think it may have been different for Romania as it was the EBU that stripped Romania of the chance to show it. Romania didn’t choose to not show it. It’ll be different if Russia doesn’t show it out of spite.
I thought the “broadcast the year before” rule had been scrapped many years ago? Have I missed something? Did Romania broadcast Eurovision last year? Were they allowed to do so despite not having paid the fees?
ORF did not broadcast ESC 2010 but Austria took part in 2011 🙂
Is this really news to Wiwibloggs? Isn’t this one of the best known Eurovision rules – that you have to broadcast the contest in order to enter next year?
AngryEuropean
On March 20, 2006, Serbia and Montenegro officially withdrew from the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. As the UJRT broadcast the semifinal and final, the viewers were able to vote, but only those in Serbia
Wonder if more countries will walk in 2018 over this fiasco. I just want to listen to some schlager and see some topless people on an interactive LED screen (who doesn’t?) just once a year, not a whole political explosion.
I’m getting tired of situations like this, for a “non political ” contest, The ESC is for sure having way too many political issues! Just in the past decade: 2009 Russia hosts, has problems with Georgia, Georgia is out… 2012 Azerbaijan hosts, has problems with Armenia, Armenia is out… 2017 Ukraine hosts, has problems with Russia, Russia is out… Enough is enough, this is a SONG CONTEST, if countries have political issues to the point that they can’t participate together in a civilized and friendly competition they should stay out permanently until the issues are solved!!!! What I think is… Read more »
Another year without Russia? Sounds like heaven to me.
@nini: well then i hope he will place outside top 3 because i wanna see gery nikol next year.
Russia understandably won’t broadcast the contest but unless O Torvald win and we go to Odessa (which we probably won’t), they’ll be allowed back into the competition without any issues. The EBU will welcome them back with open arms and slap Ukraine with a fine, and all will be good. IMO, Ukraine should pay Russia’s would be participation fees for this year’s contest, and all will be good. A mostly symbolic punishment that allows us to put this all behind us. This story probably just originated because certain Russians (not all of them) wanted to make the EBU look bad… Read more »
Vanuatu
Generally the UK still like Eurovision. It’s just stupid journalists who have nothing better to write on a May Sunday morning that moan about Eurovision. We still have high ratings of around 8 million which is more than Doctor Who. Also this year we bought more tickets than any other nation for Eurovision. More than even the Ukrainians. The U.K. Likes Eurovision most of us are annoyed by the out of touch BBC approach.
Breaking News : If Kristian Kostov will be in Top 3, he will be internally selected for next year for Bulgaria.
Hmmm I don’t think they would ban Russia, considering the bad press they would get. Plus, how devastating would it be if Yulia once again had her dream of competing thwarted? Yikes…
+”EURODRAMA” 2018
Bye bye Russia hope we never seeing you back.
Ban all countries that bring childish dramas to Eurovision.
Russia and Ukraine should be the first in the queue. Enough of this BS and let’s move forward for this year’s contest.
@PP Montenegro did broadcast Eurovision 2006, because they were part of Serbia and Montenegro. They didn’t participate but broadcasted the show and even voted.
@wtf. Stanislav is not speculating on anything. He is simply reporting what EBU said of the matter, and taking examples from the past. Him being Ukrainian has absolutely nothing to do with this. Anyone of our team members could have wrote this, but Stanislav was the first to see the news in Russian medias and therefor, was able to write the article.
Russia will always play hard. They play hard right now. They know that if they will not broadcast, EBU will lose, so now Russia is blackmailing EBU. Russia is never the bigger person, they take the last drop if they can. So naive all of you who defend Russia. Russia will squeeze anything.
Disqualify both Russia and Ukraine from next year’s contest and maybe more, this whole saga was a farce and put the contest in a bad light.
There should be a rule that dictatorship countries can’t participate.
Jo, I want Russia and Ukraine banned for one year and Turkey should actually come back … seriously, I don’t know why they don’t like the Big 5 like you are in the final basically every year, Russia and Ukraine should be banned especially after last year fiasco when Russia said oh Jamala’s song is political and that it shouldn’t be at Eurovision when she was just telling a beautiful story about her great grandmother who was deported to barren in Asia during the deportation of Crimean Tatars in the hands Joseph Stalin and when Ukraine banned poor Julia from… Read more »
”Russia is still paying contributions to the European Broadcasting Union for membership, however. Failure to pay this membership was the reason for Romania’s disqualification in 2016.”
Good point. Membership and Participation Fee For ESC are two different things.
Participation Fee For ESC is always payed by everybody. Membership is the problem that made Bosnia and Herzegovina to withdraw, and Romania to be disqualified.