Last Saturday, Jamala took the crystal, microphone-shaped Eurovision trophy back to Ukraine after the most nerve-wracking voting we’ve seen in years. Her victory with an other-worldly, anti-pop song became of hot topic around the world, with media speculating whether the win came down to politics. Her victory marked the first time that the winner did not win either the jury or the televote, as she finished second with both.

Fans of bookies hot fav Sergey Lazarev were angry over the Ukrainian victory due to the fact Russia won the televote with 361 points, but was only fifth when it came to the juries, leaving Russia in a third position.

Australia’s Dami Im won the jury portion with an overwhelming 320 points, leaving Ukraine second with a 109-point gap. Australia ended fourth in the televote, behind Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

Soon after the win, a petition started circulating about revising the results:

This petition is dedicated to [the] European Broadcasting Union from all the fans that [do] not agree with the results from [the] Eurovision Song Contest 2016. We understand that [the]  jury voting and televoting process is a hard and emotional one, but the amount of people who’ve signed this shows that how many people are sure that this year’s “winner” is not the one who should really win the contest. We have no doubt on the justice and privacy of contest, that’s why we think that there’s need to revise the results

The petition received about 25,000 supporters in its first few days, but had collected 300,000 signatures by Tuesday evening. Famous Russian singer Nikolay Baskov and Russian political figure Nikita Odintsov were among those who signed.

Following the growth of support for the petition, the EBU released a statement in which they say they will not revise any of the results and that Ukraine’s Jamala is, and will remain, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

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rep
rep
8 years ago

Weird that you take part in a contest which rules you don’t know. But suprise, suprise. Russia never plays by the rules.

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

DS, 70k of cards? was it kyivstar? I had some suspicions about that one, it sent 7x greater amount of texts than other (bigger operators). if it’s not kyivstar, then they should search for these sims too 🙂

DS
DS
8 years ago

Funny story: yesterday Ukrainian secret service busted illegal telecom center that provided IP connectivity from Ukraine to Russia including russian terrorists in eastern Ukraine. They found around 70K pre-paid SIM cards in their posession.
In case you were vondering how Russia got its 12 points from Ukraine.

Frans
Frans
8 years ago

Another evidence that EBU does not care about the rules of they need a “right” winner.

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

hahaha, you’re welcome, Russians and their mental friends 🙂
there’s no netter fun than to provoke people to do silly things. the pleasure is all mine 🙂 EBU responded to your efforts, you’ve been heard 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/EBU.HQ/

NickC
NickC
8 years ago

@Junire @Tom
The World does not agree with you, sorry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J1cfVC_Qt0

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

The situation with homophobia in Ukraine is far more worse than in Russia.

Vegan
Vegan
8 years ago

I am vegan

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@nickc
“Certainly”? You are completely right, it DOES look very good there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqRqtKQD7RU

nickc
nickc
8 years ago

@junire
Maybe it’s not a gay paradise, but certainly better than russia. I guess that’s not difficult, though.

1942
1942
8 years ago

@Oxana I have signed it. I’M A RUSSIAN EXECUTOR 😀 heh

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
8 years ago

Thanks for the link Oxana. I was looking for it to sign 🙂
Greetings from Greece

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

new petition from Russians 🙂 this time to revoke results because of latest video. now you know how Soviet Union have executed most of its population as “enemy of people” – people reported each other like crazy 🙂
https://www.change.org/p/european-broadcasting-revoke-victory-of-ukraine-at-the-eurovision-song-contest-ukraine-violated-the-rules

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@NickC
“How can you possibly expect to win a European competition that is dominated by a LGBT community when you are oppressing your LGBT minority”

Well, thank God that Jamala won because Ukraine is a real gay paradise!

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

David Who,
tbh I haven’t heard this song in Ukrainian till yesterday. And I looked for it, out of curiosity months ago, as Jamala said in her interviews she wrote it in Ukrainian but never released. original version indeed is a bit different and we can see how much of improvement Jamala have added to final English version to transform it into finished story.
That’s one positive thing out of this dirty story – mystery solved, that’s the original song. I hope Jamala will release it in audio format for us someday.

David Who
David Who
8 years ago

Thanks Oxana for linking to a fascinating video. It appears to be an earlier version of the song with no English lyrics and a much more lighter ethnic feel. The “prayer” section towards the end is not there yet and seems to be replaced with something a bit more lively.
Whether this was a rehearsal or a concert, it wasn’t commercially released therefore it doesn’t break the rules. Musically it is fascinating to hear the earlier version though. 🙂

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

blondboybc
Do you think if the athlete has won with doping or with help of corrupted jurors, it’s the fair victory? No! This is the same thing.

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

Why did they delete the video, if that’s so OK?

PapaAmericano
PapaAmericano
8 years ago

Jamala cheated !!! Disqualify her !!! I dont like her song anyway…and host the contest somewhere else AUS / RUS / BUL / SW anywhere… just stop with this Jamala political sh*t story everyday 🙁 :O

blondboybc
blondboybc
8 years ago

This is clearly a knee-jerk, un-sportsman reaction and no recount is needed. So, good on the EBU for stating as such. What is apparent is that many juries neither liked Russia’s (21) nor Ukraine’s song (17), but were far more favourable to Australia’s (save 3). So, what’s the issue, really?? Ukraine’s was the consensus song in second place, behind Russia in the televote and Australia in the jury vote. As far as I’m concerned, she won fair and square. That being said, the EBU MUST revisit the idea of 5 people per jury having so much power and underhandedly collude… Read more »

NickC
NickC
8 years ago

Here are some facts: 1- Ukraine would still have won if it was 25% juries and 75 % televote, as Russia suggested. 2- Are juries 100 % fair? No. But lets start with Russian jury, who was proven to be completely unprofessional, by periscoping the jury voting, giving high marks to their political allies, and making comments on record like “I like Armenia, because my husband is Armenian”. Countries who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others. 3- How can you possibly expect to win a European competition that is dominated by a LGBT community when you… Read more »

Krinos
Krinos
8 years ago

I will definitely respect Jamala’s win and I don’t think she should be forced to step down from her title when the show has already ended. She won under an unjust voting system, but she technically did win. However, Sergey will always be the winner I announce first and it’s Russia I think should have won.

It’s not Jamala’s fault the voting system is unfair, but Russia should have won.

esc84
esc84
8 years ago

I think most people will not treat Jamala as an Eurovision winner, because she almost violated every rule of the contest. She might win the trophy, but will never win a million hearts of a million people.

Statistic's man
Statistic's man
8 years ago

The debate to know if it’s a rehearsal or not is ridiculous.
You don’t do a rehearsal just “for fun”. You do a rehearsal because you have a real show afterwards. Saying the video is about a rehearsal or not is irrelevant because having a rehearsal means having a real show in front of a real public afterwards.

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Junire,
hahaha, that’s NO BRAINER for me. because real Putin have no twitter account 🙂 the one you read and worship is also fake, because it’s managed by his employers and have none of his real thoughts.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana
By using one’s brain. If you can’t tell the difference between a fake and a real account of Putin, no wonder you see no difference between a rehearsal and a real performance.

Jonas
Jonas
8 years ago

Of course Ukraine weren’t at any advantage!

The song was not commercially released, – though for the sake of conversation, let’s say that this did technically go against the rules. It is a technicality. The song was the true winner, not by cheating or an orchestrated campaign (hello, Azerbaijan!), but by legitimate votes from both juries and public alike. This is a storm in a teacup.

If 2011 stands, then this is really nothing in comparison.

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

I’m not making it. user with name of Putin said that on twitter.
how do you separate fake things from real? by your liking or by true facts? 🙂

Eugene,
the video in question has been reuploaded by Putins’ adepts in various youtube accounts, here’s the copy if you want to see it for yourself (I’m claiming it’s rehearsal, Russians say it is concert)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWAzB7qWNdA

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana
First, you were making up ESC rules, niw you making up Putin’s qoutes – there’s no stopping you, now is there?

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

If only we put as much effort into diversifying the economy as we do into proving @jamala broke #Eurovision rules.

Vladimir Putin

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

here’s their site
http://qha.com.ua/tr

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Eugene,
gha is internet news site for Crimean Tatars. they don’t have own TV channel to show videos, its just private youtube channel not connected to people’s home TV. that explains why this video had only 100 views during a year and why Russians haven’t sniffed it earlier.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@EugeneESCUK

Of course, I don’t know all the answers, I’m assuming things, but since I’m not claiming anything for a fact, I wouldn’t call it speculation.

The video was uploaded on YouTube in May 2015.

Erin
Erin
8 years ago

The timing of the releasing of this video is a bit suss, but once it’s out there, it’s in everyone’s interest to get to the bottom of this because it raises questions about good faith, fair play and abiding by the laws of the contest without resorting to legal loopholes, ambiguity and grey areas of morality and common sense. Nobody wants a tainted victory, so either everything is in the clear or malice is found to have been committed: You can’t leave it hanging on a thread.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana,
forgive me for saying so, but your arguments become increasingly adorable when cornered. 🙂

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Junire,
you’re showing me the same video and say it is a concert because people are dressed up? LOL
maybe it’s in your place people save their clothes and wear it only to concert?
you’re killing me, geez

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Ern,
scroll down to the link (in my previous post) with that video and read about it, we’re discussing just the same thing – video of rehearsal that been privately recorded a year ago and now Russians “found it” and say it’s a real concert.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@EugeneESCUK
It does look like you said indeed, but here’s three things:
1. It doesn’t look like the Ukrainian delegation notified the EBU that the song had been performed earlier as they must have done.
2. Its original title was supposedly “Our Crimea,” which doesn’t really make it look like a “personal” song.
3. You can see the logo of a TV-channel in this video. If it has been showed on this channel and if they also show commercial there, well…

Anyways, it’s now EBU’s call.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana
There. Here’s Jamala giving a concert in front of the audience and you’re completely right – it DOES look like a “cheap school discoteque”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoPHIdUCGtM

…or is it a “rehearsal”, as you claim it, in front of the dressed up people sitting in the audience area?

Antti Koistinen
Antti Koistinen
8 years ago

First of all, i have say that I´m stirctly against Russian politics. And I don´t even mind, if they are politically voted against. But that “voting against” was true this year. And jurys were gaming against also favourite(s). And this gaming increased cause that favourite was Russia. Not all “negative votes”, came cause “it is Russia”, they came also cause they were favourite. I compared Russian votes in final and semi final (in Exel). I noticed quite peculiar things. There were three jurys which “jumped” to my eyes. The were Sweden, Finland and Hungary. Worst was Hungary. In semifinal they… Read more »

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

“cheap school discoteque” – that’s what Eurovision in Ukraine going to look like, ha-ha

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

hahaha, proper performance and 5 people clapped. have you even been to concert with absolutely dark hall and turned off side+top lights? you must be living in very poor place if you had. also if you used for sound you can hear in this video that sound is very crisp, overloaded with middle-high freqs, that would mean that no people in front of speakers to absorb the sound and to make it naturally softer, or they burned hi freq speakers or they just too poor to tune sound and it sounds like cheap school discoteque. hmmm. what would you pick?… Read more »

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

Besides, why is there a logo of a anti-Russian TV channel QHA on this video?

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

Are we supposed to believe that it was a rehearsal? With so many people in the audience clapping before and after the song? With a person, sitting on a BALCONY filming the whole thing? Yeah, the top lights are off, but there’s a video playing in the background and another lights. Do you think we were expecting disco lights and crystal ball at the top to such song?

I understand that you’re trying to justify her but it’s more than obvious that it was a proper performance.

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Junire
haha, that was a rehearsal. can you see PEOPLE there in video?
:)? and what about stage? do you think Jamala is so poor to have 1 lamp for a light effects? look at it again 🙂 hate and lack of intelligence does not let you see things clearly? here’s the video of REHEARSAL :)))) look at the top lights, they are turned off :)))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYS1lvRfX7I

oh my, I’ll die from laugh now, I can’t laugh for hours straight )))))

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana
“Oh , don’t worry my dear, it was just rehearsal . And not the same lyrics and version . Don’t worry”

Great! – Problem solved!
*sarcasm off*

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Russians, come here 🙂 I have a message from Jamala for you

https://www.facebook.com/jamalaofficial/
“Oh , don’t worry my dear, it was just rehearsal . And not the same lyrics and version . Don’t worry”

don’t worry, be happy 🙂 have you spamed EBU enough already to get you banned from contest for the next 20 years? 😛

Oxana
Oxana
8 years ago

Junire
“Did Ukrainian channel do that?”
push ’em a message and you’ll know. they had to inform by rules. I’m as law abiding individual consider that our broadcaster took care of it in terms described in rules.
If you feel that people cheat 100% in their actions then ask them. I’m just saying that this issue had been settled long time ago. and in case someone cheated (you have to prove it, don’t you?) I’m considering it as common defamation of our Ukrainian broadcaster, jury and EBU itself.

Junire
Junire
8 years ago

@Oxana
“if they already got to the final and EBU does not have complains – consider it settled”
Um… are you just making it up?

Here’s what the official ESC bewsite say:
In case the composition has been made available to the public […] the Participating Broadcaster must inform the Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor, who shall have authority to evaluate whether the composition is eligible for participation in the Event.
(http://www.eurovision.tv/page/about/rules)

Did Ukrainian channel do that?