Ukrainian singer Alekseev only revealed his Eurovision dreams two weeks ago, but already he’s added another chapter to the story. If a report that has emerged from Belarus is correct, then the singer might not try his luck in his native Ukraine, but instead compete in neighbouring Belarus. 

Alekseev had ears perking up all over Europe earlier this month after he shared a cryptic Instagram post in which he said he was “ready to win Eurovision”. He hasn’t elaborated since then, keeping Eurofans guessing whether he was hinting at participation in Vidbir, Ukraine’s 2018 selection. He wrote:

“There was no interview in which I would not be asked why I was not going to Eurovision. I always joked about this topic, but now our team felt the strength to compete for the victory in this contest. We are accustomed each time to set new goals and achieve them.”

STB, one of the two broadcasters of Vidbir, has confirmed that the artist did, in fact, submit an application. But there’s a twist: earlier this week he ordered his management team to withdraw his bid, refusing to give any statement explaining why.

Vidbir’s musical producer Ruslan Kvinta has said that he and the team behind the selection no longer view him as a potential participant. Ruslan and Alekseev had a longstanding professional relationship, but ceased their artistic collaboration earlier this week as well. Ruslan actually wrote some of Alekseev’s most successful songs, including “Pyanoe solntse”.

According to Sputnik, the Ukrainian singer might be heading north to Belarus. Alekseev is no stranger in Minsk either, having recently won the award for “Best Male Singer” at Belarus’ “Nasha Liga” awards.

The Belarus-based version of the Russian news agency Sputnik says that the press service of the Belarusian broadcaster Belteleradiocompany has confirmed that Alekseev is indeed on the list of applicants.

If this proves to be true, he will join at least thirty more competitors vying to win Belarus’ national selection, including returnees Janet, Angelika Pushnova and Kirill Good. The country’s live auditions take place on January 11.

Do you want Alekseev to participate in Belarus’ Eurovision selection? Are you upset he has withdrawn from the contest in Ukraine? Let us know in the comments below!

Read all of our Alekseev Eurovision news

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Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Déjà vu!
Didn’t the same thing happen in the 2017 selection with Vladislav Kurasov?

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago

The way some fans react is funny ?
They love the fact that an Ukrainian singer wants to represent Belarus but they hate the fact that Azerbaijan uses Swedish authors (but Azeri singers)
Whatever …

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago
Reply to  VlaD

I think that the difference is that Ukraine and Belarus are close to each other (both culturally and geographically), while my country and Sweden has nothing to do with each other. I think that’s why most of the people want us to send a song made by our local composers which I do agree. I am sure we can do a lot better if our broadcaster tried to contact azeri songwriters, just like they did in 2017.

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago
Reply to  AzeriChico

So the difference is how close one country is to another? So you would be ok if your country is represented by a singer and songwriter from Georgia but you are not ok if your singer is Azeri and the songwriters are Swedish? Sorry but for me this makes no sense. Alekseev has no connection with Belarus. He is Ukrainian. The songwriters have no connection with Belarus. So I don’t understand why the same people that react with Azerbaijan don’t react now? P.S : trust me that no one remembers or even knows that the songwriters of your entry last… Read more »

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  VlaD

Well he won multiple awards in Belarus. And I agree with AzeriChic. Some countries have a lot in common, like Lithuania and Latvia or Croatia and Serbia.So it’s common and almost natural for them to have songwriters from these or countries. While for Azerbaijan it would maybe be natural to have songwriters from Turkey, maybe Russia, but not Sweden, it’s not like I hate that they do that, but I would prefer the other way:)

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago
Reply to  VlaD

Vlad, Azerbaijan is the only turkic country participating in Eurovision (since Turkey has withdrawn). Wouldn’t it be much better if we sent songs in Azerbaijani language with some traditional music elements? Trust me, it would be much more interesting if we did that and I am sure we would achieve better results in that case. We have a lot of talented songwriters. There’s Sweden for swedish music, I personally do not support this strategy of our national broadcaster. A lot of people lost interest to the contest here in Azerbaijan because we just keep sending foreign music to Eurovision. I… Read more »

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago
Reply to  AzeriChico

It all depends on the artist, from Aisel I would prefer a song in English, but if you choose a folk singer yes then Azeri would sound better. As for the results, both Turkey and Azerbaijan had their best results with English song. Finally, to make things clear, I don’t have a problem that Belarus could be represented by someone that has nothing to do with the country, that Sweden could be represented by a Polish singer or that Azerbaijan could have Swedish authors, for me all that matters is the song. And I really hope that Eurovision songs will… Read more »

Maclaren
Maclaren
6 years ago

This could be a clever political maneuver. The guy seems to be a big seller in his geographical area and he wants to capitalise on it without upsetting any of the ‘big guys’ in the region. I was reading he has just been starring on Voice Russia as a special guest in Team Bilan. He doesn’t really want any confrontations from any camps and plays it smart

Glecha
Glecha
6 years ago
Reply to  Maclaren

Yeah, it’s neutral and possibly most profitable for him to participate in relatively insipid Belarussian selections. Also, Ruslan Kvinta (his already-a-former producer) as a possible reason for Alekseev to withdraw from Vidbir – no rumours about ‘corruptive selection/connections’ won’t damage his persona image.

irish esc
irish esc
6 years ago

wow he is really really good i do not blame him for withdrawing from ukraine it would have been tough with 2 favs returning from last years competition i so hope he win in belarus though as he is a talent singer who could get his country to the final 2 years in a row
good luck to all the participants in belarus : )

John
John
6 years ago

Hope he makes it. He’s very good. Watch his coach Ani Lorak and Sergey Lazarev rocking out to him doing “Love Me Again” on the Voice Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VMBOupLdc4

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

He would forgo his own country for a neighbor without a direct internal selection? How peculiar.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
6 years ago

I’m sooo excited for esc 2018!

Anabela
Anabela
6 years ago

And still there is no news from Russia, Macedonia and Georgia. I wonder what are they going to do.

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Anabela

Russia will probably send the most overblown, campiest, gayest-but-totally-oblivious-to-it act they could find with the expectation it’ll finally win. Yuliya Samoylova? Who’s that?

Macedonia will probably again try hard to send an act they _think_ will qualify to the final, and then fail again due to their incompetence. Expect something Swedish-written. Or Kaliopi.

Georgia, I have no idea. I can only hope they’ll again send something atypical, like The Shin & Mariko, or Young Georgian Lolitaz.

KESC
KESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Anabela

I read a rumor saying that on New Year’s Eve, it would be announced that Julia Samoylova would represent Russia next year, but as I said, it’s just a rumor. You never know what to expect from Russia.

Georgia will probably hold a national final, but hopefully not with 25 songs this time.

Macedonia will probably select their act via internal selection. There were rumors that a woman would represent the country, but unfortunately I forgot her name.

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

I heard rumors going around about Antonia Gigovska for Macedonia.. her song Nevreme is pretty good.

Catherine
Catherine
6 years ago
Reply to  Anabela

I’m from Russia. And question who will represent us not exist. Yuliia will go to Lisbon. After last years horrible situation both channels said it. And she say it many times in different interviews and online. Yulia working on her song now.

ImFromRomania
ImFromRomania
6 years ago

Eurovision 2018 i think will be one of the best ever cuz : Loreen rumours in Bulgaria Alexander Rybak rumours in Norway Kristian Kostov want to back in E.S.C maybe for Russia Liamoo / Mariette or Benjamin in Sweden Tayanna/Malovin in Ukraine Tamar or Asmik in Armenia Elena Hasna or Feli in Romania Elina Nechayeva in Estonia Annalisa/Ermal Meta e Fabrizio Moro / Giovanni Cacamo in Italy BQL in Slovenia Mikolas Josef in Czech Republic Chen Aharoni in Israel MADARA / Laura Rizotto in Latvia EMMA in San Marino Brooke Borg in Malta Areti Ketime in Greece Yesyes in Hungary… Read more »

Anabela
Anabela
6 years ago
Reply to  ImFromRomania

You forgot Saara Aalto. I am sure she’s going to be another hot favourite. Maybe Jessica Mauboy too. And let’s not forget Azerbaijan, they always bring strong entries as well. 😀

ImFromRomania
ImFromRomania
6 years ago
Reply to  Anabela

Yes i wrote what upcoming for esc18 season , so far all artists are at least enjoyable to very good 🙂 .

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
6 years ago
Reply to  ImFromRomania

There are rumors of Loreen representing Bulgaria?

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  bulgariastan

Someone just commented that here, I wouldn’t even call it a rumor…

Hada
Hada
6 years ago
Reply to  ImFromRomania

And Laura Groesenneken for Belgium!!!

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago
Reply to  ImFromRomania

Why would Loreen represent Bulgaria? lol

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
6 years ago

He got scared of the Ukrainian competition and saw better odds in Belarus. I don’t blame him.