In September Ukraine’s Minister of Culture confirmed that the country’s existing blacklist of Russian artists would remain in force during the Eurovision Song Contest.
And on Monday, in a further sign of the country’s hardline stance against Russia, Ukraine’s intelligence agency (SBU) revealed that Russia’s Eurovision 2017 singer Julia Samoilova is under investigation and may be barred from entering the country.
As Deutsche Welle reports, Samoilova performed in the Crimean city of Kerch in 2015 — more than a year after Russia annexed the territory.
That’s prompted the Ukrainian security services to investigate whether such action should rule her ineligible to enter the country.
Writing on Facebook, SBU spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska said the security services will “study the question and take a balanced decision on her entry into Ukraine.”
The 27-year-old singer has spinal muscular atrophy — a neuromuscular disorder causing muscle wastage, which has left her reliant on a wheelchair. Her background and unique experience fits with Ukraine’s chosen theme for Eurovision 2017 “Celebrate Diversity”.
But since the announcement she will fly the Russian flag, journalists, bloggers and political commentators have all suggested that she was chosen for reasons beyond her voice and moving personal story.
Some have suggested that her selection is a move to mitigate potential booing — a threat Russia has faced for several years. Others believe choosing her is a deliberate “provocation” against Ukraine. For Ukraine to ban a singer with a disability would be counter to the slogan of this year’s Eurovision and would seem cruel and insensitive.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied the suggestion that Julia’s selection was meant to provoke this year’s hosts.
According to the TASS news agency, he told reporters: “I would not use such words as provocation, because it is a TV channel’s choice. I don’t see any provocation. Almost everybody was in Crimea, there is hardly anyone who has not travelled there.”
“Undoubtedly, we would like to avoid politicising the Eurovision contest.”
“We believe it absolutely unacceptable as far as the development of this international contest is concerned.”
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Oxana, Like I said below, Putin personally gives me a kopek for every word, so the more I write the better! If I meet my quota, he said I might even get a few acres of eastern Siberian land!! 😉 Seriously, though, every statement I make I can back up with independent, non-government sponsored sources (meaning that these news sources are not influenced by Russian, Ukrainian, American, or any other governments). I try to use logic and facts to present my case, which cannot be said of people who call others “Russian troll” or baselessly state someone works for RT… Read more »
Colin, I see your point. of course Russians will try to send provocators or will try to hire locals to create havoc. We’re well aware of it and for the last 3 years our intelligence services have prevented many such attempts. Russians tried to disable our power supplies by hacking into, they tried to blow bombs in vatious cities, tried to kill officials etc. It’s been prevented. From what I know Ukrainian services is not the only ones that will work to secure this event, there will be some professional assistants (from country that won’t participate in ESC but we’re… Read more »
Where will the competition be 100% safe? Ukraine has a conflict with Russia yes but Kyiv as a city is nowadays a much safer venue than Paris, Bruxelles or German towns.
Watch her singing live at Paralympics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQwsMGJ47c
@Executor DeMoon lovely. Part of that will is also a trust fund to: (a) pay your country’s debts and (b) to pay for your deranged brain transplant, since clearly you need it. Oh by the way, your friends at Pedophiles Anonymous says hi
@Oxana – I am not a fan of Putin’s regime at all. I spoke against it on more than one occasion. I am sure Ukrainian delegation is giving the best of themselves to do the best job for the ceremony. I am just saying that unlike most Western countries, in Ukraine, due to recent war, secret services are playing the key role in admitting people in and out of country. Any state where secret services are *that much* involved in a song contest seams less safe by default. I am not saying they don’t have a reason to be. They… Read more »
You caught me, @vlvikin. Putin personally gives me a kopek for every word I type. It’s a pretty good deal if you ask me.
@Julie
I am really do not understand why russian trolls write something like “The media here in the US”
OK…this clears some things: Arie burshtein posted this news on his Facebook page the night before Channel 1 Russia made its announcement: IT’S OFFICIAL!!!!! Netta and I are going to the Eurovision!!! It’s been crazy days here and we just received final word about it. Our song “Flame is Burning” – co-written and co-produced by Netta Nimrodi, Leonid Gutkin and myself – will represent Russia in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The song is performed by a beautiful soul and one of the bravest people I have ever seen – Julia Samoilova. The song was mixed and mastered by the… Read more »
There is another aspect that is being overlooked and is of some interest: There is an Israeli duo credited for the composition (Neta Nimrodi & Arye Burstein) together with Leonid Gutkin: Both are graduates of the Jerusalem academy of music and are trained as lyricists, song writers, arrangers and vocalists. In fact, they are a married couple and were both members of a now defunct pop-funk trio called ‘Lion Tree’ which had some gigs in Germany and was aiming at an international audience at some point. They are not credited for any composition other than one song entitled ‘New Day’… Read more »
people ask abour studio version of the song~ there’s interesting things going, someone lies. 1) songwriter told that he wasn’t aware till last hour of channel one announcement that his song will be used for eurovision (so obviously no one recorded proper studio version) 2) Yulia said she prepared for a long time and just took a break to get a surgery in autumn (so by her words she had working material or how she prepared?) if i’ll have to say who is telling the truth – the songwriter. if we don’t have proper recording it means no one ever… Read more »
Failed State, our oficials said we’ll broke diplomatic relations with France if that graddoughter of nazi le Pen will be elected as president. she’s not an official yet (just prepaid Putin’s speaking head) so she’s not worth any actions yet. but be sure if she’ll be so stupid to set a foot on our land we’ll make sure she’ll pay for it. Colin, you’re not the EBU to decide who’s eligible to host and who is not. our nation pays all fees and delivers quality content without hyped expectations to win no mater what. we won twice and were allowed… Read more »
According to the Ukrainian law, foreign citizens can not enter the Crimea from the territory of Russia, only from Ukraine. If someone crossed the border from Russia, that person is not allowed to enter Ukraine.
>The media in Russia is under state control
Like in other countries
People in Europe doesn’t know what is happennig in Crimea/Ukraine/Russia, because european politics supports nazi in Ukrainian government and european media don’t tell the truth
@vlvikin If I’m understanding you correctly, you seem to be saying that the referendum was held at gunpoint, and that the people are afraid of Russia and fear voicing their true opinions. And yet, how can that be, when is was Crimea that reached out to Russia in the first place, requesting reunification? The media here in the US also likes to portray the reunification of Crimea as an “invasion” with “little green men” oppressing the population. But if you listen to actual Crimeans, you hear a much different story. So, the question is who are we going to trust?… Read more »
@Farmer DeMoon: … You’re obviously crazy, please stop talking to me.
@ Failed State
I agree with you, is double standard.
My opinion about Crimea : the referendum was fake – but people were genuinely happy, they have their culture – but this was not the reason.
The reason of Crimean happiness was the simple fact that being part of a bigger country will mean more prosperity, more bread on the table. Fake stupid dreams.
@Oxana – In my opinion, unless Russia and Ukraine start showing more concern towards human rights and safety of others, neither should be elligeable to host next year. As countries and histories I respect them both, but the safety of participants and guests is more important now. As for your threats, I hope you realize how unnecessarilly aggressive you sounded. I don’t want to fight. I have nothing against you or Ukraine in general. My only concern in the safety of thousands of people coming there in May. Ukraine might be a wonderful host 3 years from now, but this… Read more »
ukraine – the failed state of double standards. When Marine Le Pen insisted that Russian annexation of Crimea was totally legitimate (January 2017) Ukrainian security service didn’t include her in the blacklist, while she IS really threat to the sovereignty of Ukraine. But when a disabled girl visits Crimea, she is included in the blacklist just because of the visit.
The elephant in the room
– is she in wheelchair because a vaccine ????
If so, don’t blame Russia, it happens in your country too.
FFS. I JUST WANT TO BUY THIS LADY A TICKET TO LONDON WHERE SHE CAN SING HER HEART OUT AND WE CAN CHEER WOTHOUT PREDJUDICE.
FFS. I JUST WANT TO BUY THIS LADY A TICKET TO LONDON WHERE SHE CAN SING HER HEART OUT AND WE CAN CHEER WOTHOUT PREDJUDICE.
@De Moon
If Wiwibloggs will do nothing to stop your abuse, I must do the next best thing :
trolling the troll.
Wow William, I loved you before but after watching this video I have a new respect for you, good professional, good human. 😉
I wish all people were more like you, definitely a better place this planet would be…
@ De Moon
This topic is not about you. I am not Lady Gagarina, but I am the person that said ”I see you” in one of my comments. If you continue with your bulling, I will post you wife’s email, I swear that if you will bully anybody again, I put here your wife’s email and people will tell her how you drool about teenager yodeler.
@Farmer DeMoon
George Orwell’s novel ”Animal Farm” was about USSR.
@Mikhail
Why you say about Khruschev?
This is referendum Crimea say what wont to be part of Ukraine.
en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Soviet_Union_referendum,_1991
In a country where fear reigns because of the fact that he killed dissenters do not trust polls.
As if Russia would give fk about Crimea if its not in geographical location
Crimeans never wanted to live in Ukraine in the first place. Khruschev never asked Crimeans if they wanted to live in Ukraine – and they didn’t. According to GfK pollster, 93% of Crimeans support “annexation”, only 2% don’t support it.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2015/03/20/one-year-after-russia-annexed-crimea-locals-prefer-moscow-to-kiev/#5277887b510d Other pollsters had similar results. Ukraine should finally understand that Crimeans DON’T WANT to live with them and stop acting like abusive ex.
@Hooligan DeMoon 😉
that’s cute, peasant. Listening to yodeling all day is probably messing up your comprehension skills, or is Google translate not working again? Or maybe you don’t have electricity as you forgot to pay it? Go back to the posts about your beloved yodeling, which at the end of the day, is still a terrible song. Toodles for now lessor
Again this bully De Moon, he is obsessed with yodeling, if you say something bad about that yodel song he will bully you.
Many people don’t like it, deal with it!
Petra and Mans ”We make music and friends with every nation / And bankrupt the hosting TV station”
Is there any country that can say ”We want very much to host, because we know how to make Eurovision a good buisness for our country” ?
Hope it is. I’m tired of complaints and big figures when it comes to costs (all years).
Probably Italy will win, is in big5, so maybe they will do better for themselves.
@Erin agree with your assessments, this must be nipped in the bud fast, or this will be another fiasco on the list of fiascos with regards to Ukraine hosting
On a related note, there seems to be more work that needs to be done: http://escinsight.com/2017/03/14/kyiv-ready-host-eurovision-song-contest/ the tourism minister sounds so unconvincing 🙁
Jon Ola Sands, you must step in already or release a formal statement. Your leadership on this seems pretty weak. You have unwittingly opened a Pandora’s box last year, therefore you should take full responsibility in containing it
Success is the best revenge, but Ukraine is failing and disappointing Europe.
This Eurovision edition is already a PR disaster for Ukraine on the organizing front with the high-profile resignations of its broadcaster’s core team plus the mismanagement of funds and poor delegation skills.The Yulia Samoilova case should be nipped in the bud as soon as possible and not simmer long enough to distract from what’s at stake here which is Ukraine’s ability to showcase its hospitality, heritage and cultural landscape without unnecessary sideshows and slip ups. There have been too many of those so far! Ukraine should have realized that its preconditions for what it deems as a legitimate Russian representation… Read more »
Please, let her perform! 🙁
@William Adams: I actually just watched the video in which you explain why you think Julia’s participation is important, and I am so glad you made that video.
I had only looked at it from a strategic angle, but I totally oversaw the fact that she will also mean something way more important to a lot of people. Thank you for sharing your story and for showing me another perspective… Now THIS is great journalism! 🙂
First of all, as @William Adams Lee Adam’s video is posted here, I have to say I saw it last night. It was so moving! Everything you said William was just so right. You don’t have to apologize. For me, a simple wiwibloggs reader, one thing I have understood since the first time I’ve started reading wiwibloggs is that you are an open minded blog which doesn’t discriminate people based on gender, beliefs, sexual orientation or anything else. And I love you for that. Every artist has the right to participate in this party. As for if Ukraine should let… Read more »
Poor Woman, just let her live her dream and let her sing at ESC ??
Oxana: “your disrespect towards Ukraine and its people is not something we’ll tolerate. beware!”
Bitch, please. Isn’t your job to hate Russia in all the ways possible. How can you say that about Russia, but then attack someone for hating Ukraine. Haha, you got a bit confused there, hun.
@Tazmanian DeMoon: “I started to vomit when I hear about this hypocritical political correctness. This nausea is the explanation for those ironic & sarcastic phrases.”
I’m not searching for any meaning, actually you just rephrased exactly what I said: you “vomit” because you don’t support that kind of politics (or rather a weird distorted image of European politics that you seem to have), which is exactly what I wrote. Btw, no one deserves to be booed, especially not because of the country they’re from.
Everyone keeps mentioning Ukraine but they seem to be missing the bigger picture. Russia knows the juries will crucify their performance even worse than last year, allowing them to spread the narrative that the juries are biased and need to be removed.
@Julie
The referendum is not when the media is being shut down, threatening with automatic weapons and killing dissenters
@Julie: That referendum was hastily organized by Russia on the land of another country and the two possible answers were “Do you want to be independent” or “Do you want some level of independence?”, so basically “Do you agree with me?” or “Do you agree with me a lot?”. On top of everything it was only organized when Ukraine’s government changed to a more pro-EU one (when the Ukrainian government was Moscow’s puppet, it didn’t seem to bother them that Crimea was in Ukraine). It was the first violent border modification in Europe since WWII. I believe in self-determination and… Read more »
@ Julie : Self determination and the will of the people are acts of purest democracy, and it is hypocritical for the international community to condemn it (especially here in America, where such acts were foundational to its nationhood).
It’s easy to say ”self determination”, but Europe will be full of microstates if that happens (in each country there are people that want independence of a land), and in 2 parties US is very hard to see how many parties are in each European country, and are more than 2 ways to go.
Unless she has made a public statement glorifying Russian jingoism, let her participate and just make her pay a small fine if you’re adamant on punishment. I’m fine with Ukraine barring artists who blatantly support Putin and insult Ukraine’s sovereignty, but not all Russian artists are the same. Although I have another theory as to why Yulia was sent. Russia weren’t being exploitative, but they sent her because she was the only contestant willing to participate this year. I’d wager that high profile artists like Polina and Sergey would feel queasy about performing in Ukraine, and Yulia realised this was… Read more »
Well, the good sis did say some real bs there (in the same speech she said Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s economy doing bad when they’re doing far better than any ex-Soviet state lmao), but we can’t blame her for being yet another victim of the Russian propaganda. Just ignore these secondary aspects and let her perform in Kiev, it’s not like she’s a threat to the Ukrainian security because of that speech.
Let Crimeans decide what they want for Crimea, and they have decided to join Russia, as confirmed by independent (non-Russian) polling. Who is anyone else to speak for them? Self determination and the will of the people are acts of purest democracy, and it is hypocritical for the international community to condemn it (especially here in America, where such acts were foundational to its nationhood). For Crimeans, Crimea is Russia, and that is what matters – you can’t force them to be part of a nation they no longer want to be part of. Ukrainian law doesn’t apply to a… Read more »
The internationally recognised borders of Ukraine include the Crimean peninsula. If anyone crosses into what Ukraine rightfully considers to be its own territory without permission, it would be entirely reasonable to bar that person from entering the country in future. I still think that while it would be entirely acceptable for them to block Julia Samoilova’s entry to Ukraine for Eurovision, they would be well advised to allow her to compete in May. Everyone makes mistakes, and as long as she genuinely makes an apology then it would be a nice gesture towards peace and togetherness – the original purpose… Read more »