She took part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and more recently found herself in the middle of a geopolitical row between Ukraine and Russia over her participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. And that row ended with Julia Samoylova being handed a three-year ban on entering Ukraine and Russia withdrawing from Eurovision 2017. 

Soon afterwards Russian media reported Samolyova would travel to Crimea, to perform in Sevastapol to mark Victory Day on May 9th.

And on Tuesday the performance finally took place. Samoylova treated Sevastopol to a multiple song set, while 18 acts performed at the first semi-final in Kyiv, a move which many think was deliberately timed.

Speaking to journalists, she called the opportunity to perform in Crimea a “great honour” and said it was “exciting” to perform on Victory Day.

Despite Channel One promising she will represent Russia in 2018, Samoylova chose to avoid mentioning Eurovision directly.

She told the thousands in the crowd: “”It is a great honor for me to perform here on May 9, and I will try and share this joy with you.”

RUSSIA’S EURODRAMA CONTINUES

Unfortunately for Moscow, it appears the Eurodrama isn’t over yet.

Russian media has reported Russia may be disqualified from Eurovision 2018, as they have refused to broadcast Eurovision 2017. There is form here: Russia attempted to return in 1999 but was unable to as Channel One failed to broadcast the contest in 1998.

It’s also been suggested that failure to appear at Head of Delegation meetings earlier this year will result in Russia being sanctioned by the EBU.

Whatever does happen to Russia, decisions will have to wait until after Eurovision 2017 concludes. Despite the Eurodrama all eyes are instead on Ukraine’s hosting.

GET MORE RUSSIA EUROVISION NEWS HERE

Photo: REUTERS/Pavel Rebrov

68 Comments
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Ascension
Ascension
6 years ago

Hey guys, what did you think of the results and production of Semi-Final 1? Here’s my review and reaction to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPA40szVZQ

rof12
rof12
6 years ago

cant wait for the ukrainian ban. Bad production and completely ruined the contest

weareanoynomous
weareanoynomous
6 years ago
Reply to  rof12

Nah. The second semi-final was great.

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
6 years ago

Pathetic. Now let’s all just get on with enjoying Eurovision!

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

Perhaps we may see another articles about Crimea if recently dug out ‘thing’ about one of performers at this current year will be put on ‘rails’. Russian media has started already.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago
Reply to  Zebb
Alex M
Alex M
6 years ago

Before this she could say “I didn’t know”. Now she definitely knows what she’s doing. And she voluntarily takes part in the confrontation.
She’s already banned, so I don’t see Ukraine answering to this anyhow.

Nika
Nika
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex M

Julia doesn’t take part in any confrontation, she takes part in an event devoted to one of the most important events in the history of her country held in her country. It so happenned.

JP
JP
6 years ago

Everything is politic – peace songs (Germany 1982 winner), LGBT Conchita’s beard, Russia booed is politics too. If we must ignore politics, we must forget also about Russian politics regarding LGBT, during Eurovision. Then we can ask Ukraine to forget about Yulia’s political ideas. But everything everywhere is politic, and it’s natural.

JP
JP
6 years ago

For Ukraine and Russia this is more less serious than it’s for us. They both play their game, and we make such a big deal out of this. The problem is the real war and security forces that make Eurovision 2017 look like a military event.
This poker game about esc singers is not something I care about because both countries know that they are playing poker.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

William Adams is her biggest fan gurl

Xavier
Xavier
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

The music of Salvador Sobral is the best!
EUROVISION is not for movie producers….
Salvador only use a Microphone to sing and not need a show stage whith massive virtual effects…!
EUROVISION is for sing and not for Music vídeo…!
The only one that is real is Salvador, voice + piano + string NO MORE VIRTUAL EFFECTS!!!!
Italy and bulgaria have massive effects and and unreal voice treatment…and more of the same …dance music…!

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

One thing is clear, Julia Samoylova and her people really don’t care about Ukrainian sensibilities

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

On that, I think we can all agree. 🙂

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

Yep. Unfortunately, it is better for her career to magnify the drama, rather than mitigate it. Equally unfortunately, Ukraine gave her precisely Zero Reasons to care about their sensibilites when they banned her.

It’s a very cold-blooded twist of the knife.

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

This just seems like unnecessary provocation to be honest.

Personally I wouldn’t mind if Russia stopped competing altogether (though I did like their 2013 entry) but I understand that this is not a very popular opinion.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

When I first read this headline, I thought that someone had actually set Julia on fire! It turns out that the only smoke is from a political flame still burning. I do wish Wiwibloggs would stay out of this political nonsense.

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

That’s a silly thing to say Purple Mask, it’s not Wiwibloggs who are bringing politics into the contest. They’re simply reporting news and events. In any case, do you really expect the invasion of one Eurovision country by another NOT to affect the contest in any way?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

Since you ask, no I don’t. I actually wrote to the EBU several times this year, because I believed strongly that hosting the contest in Ukraine at this time was a mistake. They didn’t listen. Frankly as a songwriter, I don’t think conflict or politics should go anywhere near the Eurovision Song Contest. I also would like to get rid of the “competing for your country” aspect of the contest. Why should songwriting be associated with nationalism? Why can’t the songs compete as just songs? Unfortunately with articles like this from Wiwibloggs stirring up political trouble (for seemingly no valid… Read more »

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Purple Mask, I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. You have some good ideas. The only point where we disagree is that I feel we can’t just ignore politics because they affect everyone’s lives.
But yes, I too would prefer a contest between songs, not countries, with the winner perhaps being decided by a Eurovision Academy (like the Oscars) rather than the public or national juries.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Unfortunately, “this political nonsense” refuses to stay out of Eurovision, and Wiwibloggs are reporting on Eurovision news.

I mean, either or both countries might well end up BANNED next year, because of all this juvenile slap-fighting. It is a legitimate topic for Wiwibloggs to report on.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

Indeed. As I just explained above in my reply to Fatima, the issues are a lot wider than what I can describe in a single comment. The whole idea of “nationalism” at the ESC being associated with nationalism, politics (and now conflict) is a problem for me, and for many other songwriters.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

The flipside, however, is that the show would not be even 20% of what it is if the songs were not representing countries, and it would also defeat the Purpose of the contest “bringing countries together” if the songs did not represent individual nations.

I mean, we’d NEVER get as many “bittersweet balkan ballads” and Lordi and Romanian yodelling and over-intellectual Italian songs and Naviband folk-love-of-home and Portuguese balladeering if this was a market-driven contest of just-songs. The contest would be a lot more generic, and a lot poorer.

Ricardo
Ricardo
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

Couldn’t have put it better. .I think secretly alot of people very much enjoy the political aspect of the contest anyway.

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Ricardo

Agreed, this is the one event of the year where I detect some sense of nationalism in myself. And despite thinking my country’s song is a well-executed polished turd this year, I still really want it to do well.

Llobera 4 Ever
Llobera 4 Ever
6 years ago

I think both countries should be simply kicked off the contest… No matter how much money or military power you have, if you have a 3rd world mentality when it comes to human rights you DON’T DESERVE to be part of Europe!

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Llobera 4 Ever

The thing is, they ARE part of Europe. They belong to our beautiful continent in the same way Germany, France or Greece do.

Julian
Julian
6 years ago

Trump and Tillerson met with Lavrov yesterday. It is very probable that at this point US and Russia can make agreements over most of the situations around the world, as there isn’t the visceral hate that is between Putin and Clinton. And with all global stuff more or less not burning EBU needs Russia, it is for them being an association of countries that have 600 million people versus same for 700 million.

WendP
WendP
6 years ago
Reply to  Julian

I HEART TRUMP.

Eurovish
Eurovish
6 years ago

Russia being Russia as per usual, she was banned for performing in Crimea so what does she go and do?- goes back to perform….

Victory day? Haha Russia claim that it was legal and it wasn’t a military invasion…. so why call it victory day?? Hope Russia are banned in 2018, allowing them in doesn’t signify celebrating diversity it’s pure appeasement –

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Eurovish

The “Victory Day” is victory over Nazi Germany in WW2.

Wiwi mo
Wiwi mo
6 years ago
Reply to  Eurovish

Oh Eurovish, how stupid you are.

Tusán
Tusán
6 years ago

Julia has no relevance to the contest anymore so why should anybody care about her at this point? She’s a lawbreaker according to Ukraine so please respect it and just forget her.

Rogesc
Rogesc
6 years ago

Both Ukraine and Russia behave like babies. Get a grip, get a life and get over it!!

Marcus
Marcus
6 years ago

Anti-Russia sentiment has been prevalent in this competition for years and it is disgusting. Their contestants have been booed and it even cost Sergey the title last year which he gracefully accepted. Rainbow flag warriors of the juries and crowd are hypocrites in that they spout their mantra of ‘celebrate diversity’ and music that unites, but shun and mistreat a country that has different views and beliefs that they don’t agree with. Sergey would have and should have won last year, but politics played its part and the rainbow brigade handed the trophy to Jamala’s political antiginising jibe of a… Read more »

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

Last year Sergey lost because the best song won. Nothing to do with politics

Marcus
Marcus
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Hahahaha you’re funny.
That’s cute.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

You are funny..and get over it
You should actually state the obvious. Russia always get good position in the Final due to politics even if they send trashy songs which is almost always the case.

Marcus
Marcus
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

and one might ask why Russia even have to qualify for the final via the semi? Does a population of over 140 million not constitute them being classed as a ‘big’ nation? or is it about other things 😀

Matt
Matt
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

The ‘Big 5’ has nothing to do with population size. It’s about how much they pay to the EBU, which enable this contest to take place.

Alexander
Alexander
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

You couldn’t be more right! After the annexation of Crimea and because of the civil war with the so-called pro-Russian separatists, Ukraine skips a year and comes back with a song about deportation of Crimean tatars by the Soviet government. It has nothing to do with politics whatsoever.

When “professional jury” in Lithuania puts Russia on the last place second year straight, it has nothing to do with politics whatsoever.

When Jamala herself in her interview with The Guardian says that, of course, the song 1944 is about current events, too, it’s not political either.

The best song won.

James burje
James burje
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Politics won
It did u miss the point of it
The winning song was mediocre to say the least

Alexander
Alexander
6 years ago
Reply to  James burje

That was sarcasm.

CarlosM
CarlosM
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

I guess us LGBT are to keep our mouths shut when it comes to discrimination, right?

I was in favor of Sergey last year because he’s not a bigot.

Guido
Guido
6 years ago

This has no value on Wiwibloggs…keep politics away please.

Mws
Mws
6 years ago

BAM! TAKE THAT UKRAINE!
😀

Sara dubois
Sara dubois
6 years ago

Why mention her at all?
Is this website sponsored by Russia?
Wouldn’t surprise me

CarlosM
CarlosM
6 years ago
Reply to  Sara dubois

Well, when the main editor pities all people with disabilities and thinks all of them are like his own brother, of course, this site will ignore Julia’s lawbreaking.

As someone with a disability, I know that we are to be treated equally, including being subjected to criticism.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  CarlosM

The only Ukrainian “law” that Julia has “broken” is “going to Crimea sometime in the last three years”. The Ukrainian “law” is roughly as ridiculous and as arbitrarily-enforced as the “law” in Azerbaijan that nearly everyone in Armenia “breaks” just by engaging fellow Armenians. Azerbaijan pre-emptively being 100% certain to ban anyone from Armenia for “being a lawbreaker” was exactly as ridiculous as Ukraine being 100% to ban anyone from Russia for “being a lawbreaker”. If it wasn’t for visiting Crimea, some other pretext would be cooked up. If countries are going to have these kinds of ridiculous “laws” on… Read more »

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

I sort of agree with you, but it’s the Ukrainian government banning the Russian entrant. The Ukrainian broadcaster is just upholding the law. And they are the one organising the event after all..

JP
JP
6 years ago

Why banning both of them, when EBU can leave them alone. It’s not like any country will do the same next year. Each host wants as many participants as possible, but in the same time, countries in conflict will always have dramas like this one, no matter the penalty from EBU. Russia and Ukraine can’t be friends right now, and is not right to punish them for that. If Sergey would’ve won, Ukraine wouldn’t have participated this year (their statement), only that Russia found a way to create a soap-opera with Yulia. Leave them alone. Hope both will participate next… Read more »

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
6 years ago

yikes

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

k

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

As for Russia 2018 and Ukraine 2018, I wouldn’t mind banning both of them for a year, or more. 1) Ukraine’s “law” about arbitrarily banning anyone who’s been to Crimea in the past three years is whiny bovine excrement. It’s not like the laws of the present government of Ukraine have any convincing legitimacy, and this ridiculously-broad law would have hit Sergey Lazarev and the vast majority of anyone Russia chose to send. Of the millions of tourists and performers who visit Crimea, who does and does not get banned is completely arbitrary. Julia, quite importantly, had not been banned… Read more »

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

What happened in 2012?
I’ve just assumed Armenia’s non-participation wasn’t controversial at all. But I’m just uninformed it seems.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

Azerbaijan has a “law”, like Ukraine has a “law”. Azerbaijan’s “law” is so ridiculously-broad that it effectively bans everyone from Armenia. If Armenia had tried to send a delegation to Baku 2012, all of them would have been banned. Rather than engage in a political media battle, Armenia just politely declined to attend (there was a lot of discussion about Russia maybe doing similar this year). These kinds of “laws” are ridiculous and stupid, and have now caused huge problems twice in one decade. The EBU should refuse to let any country host if it is intent on enforcing arbitrary… Read more »

JP
JP
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

Those countries are in war with each other. What do you expect…to allow tourists, or what?
It’s not ”laws”, it’s war.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  JP

I “expect” countries to live up to their responsibilities as Host Country, or to decline hosting if they cannot live up to those responsibilities.

If it is more important to the would-be-host to say “no, this is war”, then the simple solution is to not have them host the event if they cannot properly live up to their obligations. This is twice now, in less than a decade, that a host has flagrantly been unwilling to make everyone welcome.

Soteb
Soteb
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

For your information: Azerbaijan didn’t ban any country in 2012 , Armenia chose not to participate, there was no any controversy or whatsoever.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Soteb

For your information, it is against Azerbaijani “law” for almost any Armenian to travel to Azerbaijan. Armenia “chose” not to participate in 2012 because it was 100% certain that Azerbaijan would have banned anyone they tried to send.

It was only “not a controversy” because Armenia didn’t force Azerbaijan’s hand by picking someone. As it was, it was entirely unreasonable to allow the contest to be hosted by a nation that would REQUIRE another country to miss the event. Defeats the entire point of the contest.

Bigby Bottleby
Bigby Bottleby
6 years ago
Reply to  Soteb

There were also concerns about the safety of any Armenian participants, especially as the Government in Baku whipped up anti-Armenian sentiment in speeches in the first quarter of 2012.

CarlosM
CarlosM
6 years ago

Why doesn’t she just flip off Ukraine? She’s doing that, anyway, by performing in Crimea.

She’s a disgrace to people with neuromuscular diseases, like me!

Ascension Music
Ascension Music
6 years ago

Hey, check out this video and let me know what you think!! I would love to read your thoughts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPA40szVZQ

TC
TC
6 years ago

What an idiot. That is precisely why she was banned from the country. I hope Russia gets some heavy sanctions for all their crap.

Ern
Ern
6 years ago

LOL …. this girl is trolling Ukraine brilliantly.

Russia will withdraw from the EBU before tolerating any sanctions, and I don’t blame them. Why should they have to tolerate having their artists booed at??

Frankly, Russia SHOULD withdraw from the EBU and create their own RussoVision. They’re a big enough country.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Ern

Ukraine “trolling” Russia last year, and Russia “trolling” Ukraine this year, IS THE PROBLEM. A pox on both of them.

As for “RussoVision”, the old Communist-bloc InterVision was a thing that actually happened … and it was never as big a thing as Eurovision for very good reasons. There may well be room for a “North-Asia-Vision” in addition to Eurovision, but it will be a pale shadow if it tries to exist as an alternative to Eurovision, in direct competition.

ESC84
ESC84
6 years ago

Looking forward yo 2018 Russian entry

I love the monkey
6 years ago

La peor perdida de tiempo
Es discutir con el fanatico
Al que no le importa la verdad
O la realidad, sino solo la
Victoria de su fanatismo.