Miss a minute and you miss a lot.

Following today’s sudden announcement — and subsequent cancellation — of the Eurovision 2017 host city announcement, MP Borislav Bereza has made extraordinary claims about the decision.

Speaking to the privately-owned TV channel 112 Ukraine, the MP claims that Odessa was chosen by the Organising Committee and was meant to be revealed to the world today as the next host city. But, in his words, someone in the “administration” blocked the decision.

“The fact is that nobody wants to lose this opportunity and the financial flows from Kiev,” he says. “Officials understand that some part of the money will be given by Europe, some part by The Cabinet of Ministers, and they understand that the financial flows go out of their hands.”

The TV channel does not clarify whether this “administration” refers to officials in Kyiv or Dnipro, nor does it identify the mechanism by which they blocked the announcement.

But this much is clear: The MP is alleging that someone with power and financial interests stopped Odessa from being announced as the winner, despite the fact the committee allegedly chose it.

It should be noted that Bereza previously lost the Kyiv mayoral race to Vitali Klitschko. On August 7 he stirred the pot, writing on Facebook that Kyiv had effectively been eliminated from the host city race. That forced NTU to issue a statement strongly denying his claims and making it clear a decision had not yet been made.

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Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

I didn’t prepped that much of popcorn, seriously! Three cities served by different political powers and Bereza-looser working as a needle for Kyiv backness? Hot! But the not fun point I’ve found about Odessa that it’s extremely close to Transnistria (part of Moldova) which is served and/or occupied by russian military forces. Along with failed city battle it just seems that NTU should just pick instantly something safe enough and far from post-soviet/pro-russian conflict territories.

Klumba
Klumba
7 years ago


Half of the Ukrainian politicians are involved in Panama scandal. Thus it is not a criterion.

Stanislav
Stanislav
7 years ago

I hope it’s not Odesa. Hennadiy Truhanov, the mayor of the city, is involved in Panama Papers. You can easily check this info on google by yourself.

IVY
IVY
7 years ago

I still hope Odessa gets chosen because while Kyiv’s venue is modernized enough for Eurovision, the capacity is the problem. Plus, Ukraine’s really putting a lot of effort giving other cities the chance to shine with the Eurovision hosting and it would just be a waste of their time and effort if the end result is just Kyiv hosting once again. If that were the case all along, they shouldn’t have staged the “battle of the cities” in the first place and they should have simply announced Kyiv as host city in the first place. At this point, Odessa is… Read more »

kris
kris
7 years ago

@roelof……did you just meekly call jamala lame n get away with it without anyone noticing?? :p

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

What exactly is going on??? First, was Dnipro eliminated? Second, was Odesa chosen???

This is turning into quite the farce. The organisation of this is a farce, hopefully the organisation of the actual contest (whenever we get a host city) will be less farcical.
After all, Ukraine is a fan favourite country, and they wouldn’t want to let down their huge following who vote for them every year regardless 😉 but on a serious note…this is a joke.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

Corruption.

However. I don’t think that the time is the problem with this bid. It’s good that they choose wisely and carefully. They are not the first one’s to do that and NTU have done this once before. The problem is Ukraine’s zero sense for professionalism in. You DON’T announce a press conference and then cancel it 20 minutes before it’s about to start.

This circus will all come down to an end soon and we will get a host city soon. I think Odessa is the best option, seriously.

Adam
Adam
7 years ago

I’m loving this drama!

tania
tania
7 years ago

you, guys, are not accustomed with ukrainian politics 🙂 that is how, i mean all this drama, shocking statements (often not true but making pr wave) it is often going on here
my advice, don’t make any conclusions as there is no 100% evidence, take a deep breath, and wait until final decision.

Klumba
Klumba
7 years ago

the only one

Exactly. This is a competition between mafia structures, not cities as I have already mentioned.

Max the only one
Max the only one
7 years ago

I’m a little confused.

Is he saying that Odessa was chosen and about to be announced but someone in the government or NTU that wants Kiev blocked the decision?

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Who said off-season was boring?

Steklovata
Steklovata
7 years ago

Game of Thrones 2.0

Tony
7 years ago

Wow, this dramafest is off to a great start! Ukraine is losing a lot of credibility here….

Sven
Sven
7 years ago

Why can’t just a normal country host ESC?

ms
ms
7 years ago

Kiev will do anything to have the contest but Odessa is more beautiful.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
7 years ago

#DRAMA I just want them to select Kyiv already! I hope they’ll hurry, because i too voted for Lamala, and i never wanted this drama 🙁