It’s the controversy that launched a thousand headlines, turning the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest into a political fiasco in the eyes of millions.
And today Ukraine’s three-year ban on Russia’s Eurovision 2017 singer Julia Samoylova flared up once again with the news that the EBU may temporarily exclude Ukraine from Eurovision.
Speaking to German-language newspaper Sonntagsblick, the EBU’s czarina lashed out at Ukrainian officials.
“The behaviour of Ukraine is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.
The 56-year-old power broker is currently overseeing negotiations with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hrojsman and President Petro Poroshenko to reach a “satisfactory solution”.
They are the only two men who could reverse the ban on Julia, making it possible for her to compete at Eurovision.
“I deeply regret the fact that the ESC is being abused for political action,” she said. “The Eurovison Song Contest is supposed to delight and bring together millions of people; it must not be used to incite them against each other.”
Deltenre’s comments follow weeks of criticism that the EBU hasn’t been tough enough on Ukraine.
A ban on Ukraine?
And, perhaps to prove that she’s serious about creating a space for Julia at the contest, she suggested that sanctions against Ukraine are not out of the picture.
According to Blick, Deltenre could temporarily exclude Ukraine from Eurovision if a satisfactory outcome is not reached, though the paper did not clarify whether this referred to current or future editions of the contest, nor has this been publicly confirmed elsewhere.
The ongoing drama is not, of course, the first instance of politics leading to withdrawal or exclusion.
In August 2008, after a period of worsening relations, Georgia and Russia went to war over the disputed regions of Ossetia and Abkhazia. The following February, Stefane & 3G won Georgia’s Eurovision selection. As a result they would sing “We Don’t Wanna Put In” at the 2009 contest in Moscow.
Controversy ensued as the song was seen to make reference to Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin. This argument was backed up by the fact that the group pronounced the lyrics “put in” as “poot een”.
The EBU ruled that the lyrics were not permissible under Eurovision rules and that Georgia must either amend them or send a new entry. Georgia refused and withdrew completely, attributing the EBU’s objections to pressure from Russia.
Georgia returned in 2010 and have competed every year since. Stefane & 3G band member Tamara “Tako” Gachechiladze is set to represent the country in Kyiv.
Read more Ukraine Eurovision news
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I guess it would be very appropriate of the reporter to mention the reason for the travel ban. It was not out of nothing, but due to violation of Ukrainian border law, and in case of Samoylova it was a conscious political statement, as she stressed out in her blog
Why can we not go back in our cosy little Western European world when it was only about 20 of us and didn’t have to deal with all this sh*t… 🙁 Oh I dread the year of 1994…
People in Europe don’t hate Russia and we don’t hate THE russian people. We hate your criminal, lying, fake news diktator Putin. Russia is very welcome back to esc After you have Voted him off.
Russia could host the contest this year decently without political prejudice but too many political efforts were taken to avoid it. Shamefull and regret that it won’t happen in Moscow or Sochi.
To all the idiots who still think that Samoilova was really included in the persona non grata list of Ukraine a week ago because she violated Ukrainian law two years ago. Today a Russian stand up group called Comedy Women has had a show in Kiev’s main stage – National Hall of Ukraine. All of the 12 participants of the show have violated the same Ukrainian “law” a lot of times. The show was fantastic, tickets were sold out. To Oxana https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iYD5WFnWkYA
AurelianTamisan
Politics is not equal to MONEY!
Wow, I’m shocked! EBU is capable to answer tot his type of problems?! Political action? What about financial one? I mean, last year EBU didn’t even bother to answer PRO TV’s proposal to keep Ovidiu Anton in Eurovision. It’s a good sign though, at last let’s try to not repeat such a type of action, but still…
@L’oiseau
What are you talking about? I am Romanian.
You attacked Romanian song since March 5, when it was chosen, until today and maybe in the next weeks too.
@yri
I thought that was the fashion these days… Nobody likes to taste their own medicine, right?
Anyway having an empty wheelchair with an instrumental song, would do the trick and I am sure that it would win the contest, at least the televote. Maybe put the wheelchair on a running mat beside a dancing monkey. What a statement! Love it!
Ucrap is so last year
@ L’oiseau
You offended the audience saying that has ”bad taste or vote for a laugh”.
Maybe you are not aware of that, but you have a very aggressive approach.
@yri
No… not really, because I am just expressing my personal taste, which I know that for the majority is very “alternative”. I should I conform to the “diktat” of the masses… Is it not about “diversity”?…
@ L’oiseau ”Look at Poland last year… A horrendous song that got lots of televoting… In general, the wider audience just have bad taste or vote for a laugh…”
Do you ever think that you might be completely wrong?
@Julian: An empty wheelchair might be a bit too on the nose. I was listening to the song, and actually it could be about absence anyhow. “In the dark a flame is burning” could be taken literally in the choreography, and could even suggest someone who has been lost from war or conflict. The whole staging could be the last echo of someone’s soul just after they had been killed – it’s a massive theatrical risk, but I can imagine Russia trying to make some sort of a statement out of it, and it just so happens that the song… Read more »
@Surinam
If that is the case, then yes, I think there is a discrimination in Lithuania, indeed! On televoting, well… a high televoting score does not make the song good. Normally it’s quite the contrary. Look at Poland last year… A horrendous song that got lots of televoting… In general, the wider audience just have bad taste or vote for a laugh…
“their delegation rushed and booked 30 rooms” According to the article they booked the hotel rooms back in February and that can be easily checked. So what have you been talking about “fake news”?
@L’oiseau it was a bad song that’s why Lithuanian televoters gave it 8? And what about 2015 and 2014. The same 25th-26th places for Russia given by ALL jury members. Is it a coincidence? Of course not. And what about the jury members themselves. 20% of Lithuania’s population are Russian-speaking but we have seen no Russian-speaking jury member in Lithuanian board ever since the system was introduced.
@AlexNeretin
Maybe, just maybe, the Lithuanian jury gave bad classification to Russia’s song last year just because it was a bad song ?…
And, by the way, I totally agree, why don’t let Russia go?…
I’m more disappointed by the fact that Russia’s song entry this year isn’t on par with the quality that Polina and Sergey sent in the last two years.
I am so sad for this conflict in Ukraine. EU and Russia have been acting like two jealous suitors who have torn the bride apart. Could someone who defends the ban, explain to me the reason for a law that bans artists who have entertained people in Crimea to enter the Ukraine. Why should you punish an artist like Julia Samoylova because she spread a little happiness to people in Crimea? Julia Samoylova is not a terrorist or has any military objectives, she is just a singer. This law is from a moral perspective just wrong and in conflict with… Read more »
Do the right thing
It’s ENTIRELY Ukraine’s fault. Russia did acted in full accordance to EBU rules.
@ Oxana – I have scientific interest – how voting patterns will change if there will be no Russia? don’t you want to know it too?
Actually this is interesting, Russia is the country that receives the most points (enough points to be in top 10), for nothing, just for being Russia. If those points will go somewhere else, it will be too many points, for anybody to predict anything this year. This is the greatest mystery that Eurovision voting can produce.
And an empty wheelchair. Would it be against the rules?
fikri ahah, I won’t because I still have popcorn 🙂 I have scientifi interest – how voting patterns will change if there will be no Russia? don’t you want to know it too? 🙂 Purple Mask, I doubt that Russians are coming, just like I said month ago they are scared to come, nothing changes. They just tried to bully Ukraine with fake “ban” and none of our officials uttered anything 🙂 On Russian channels they have hysterical TV shows about it, mainly blaming Ukraine and not a single word about their participation (last thing they announced is refusal to… Read more »
@Purple Mask ‘2. The Russians are apparently still coming anyway. Hmmm. I suppose they could just perform the song with backing singers and an empty stage, in protest. (Not such a crazy idea, actually.)’ I thought about it too. Or they could make a choreography, the normal one to be performed with or without Julia, they can make a clip with a live show – what it would look like normally. In the contest, if she still is not accepted, Julia will not sing and you have to figure it out. They can even add background singers for the chorus.… Read more »
@oxana: great news! now tell your government to stop banning innocent russians, will you?
So to sum up:
1. The Ukraine “punishment” from EBU has not been confirmed, and might actually have been exaggerated by Blick. (duh)
2. The Russians are apparently still coming anyway. Hmmm. I suppose they could just perform the song with backing singers and an empty stage, in protest. (Not such a crazy idea, actually.)
an update from Russia~
their delegation rushed and booked 30 rooms for delegation in luxury hotel. we know where 🙂 the article heading had pretty humorous tagline “With Samoylova or without”
could be a bluff or maybe they have new contestant? 🙂
It is ENTIRELY Russia’s fault that Julia was banned from entering Ukraine. They knew that Ukrainian law prohibits her base on her past visits to Cremea. Why does Russia think her representatived should be above the law? If you break the law, you pay the consequences. And the naive or misinformed people here who compare the breaking of the Ukrainian law with ignoring a rule set by EBU…. set your prioities and understanding right. Law is law and there are legal consequences for breaking it. And rules are far less important. Russia’s petty manupulative games backfired at her–as they should.… Read more »
I rather think EBU chief comment is UNACCEPTABLE. It is not that Yulia was disqualified or not allowed to enter Ukraine. They knew it before she was selected.
Also, Russia didn’t have internal selection where unknown artist was selected. Russian representatives were very clear from the very beginning that this is going to happen.
Ukraine is following it legislation and there is nothing wrong with that.
I am from Sweden and must say that I appreciate that EBU defends the right of all EBU countries to participate in ESC. EBU must put pressure on the politicians in Ukraine to stop the ban which is based on a stupid, meaningless law which I am almost sure does not reflect the will of the Ukrainan people! Just a look at the ESC voting last year gives an indication where the problem is. Last year the Televotes from Russia gave Ukraines entry 10pts and the Televotes from Ukraine gave Russian entry 12pts. BUT THE POLITICALLY COMPROMISED JURIES GAVE EACH… Read more »
EBU must learn that Ukraine is not like Russia anymore where the dictator Putin just snaps his finger and everything is done. They should stop threatening with stupid punishments and respect the Ukranian laws which apply to everyone, even when they’re innocent looking wheelchaired woman. Poroshenko cannot do anything about it because he’s not above the law.
Firstly, sorry for my poor english I’m russian and only what I would say is: Most of europeans can’t imagine how hard it was to select an our representative. You definitely know about “black list of artists”, but it’s not a huge problem for us: there are no many people, and none of them really interested to perform in ESC. The really serious problems are: 1) many of our singers don’t want to participate because of incorrect voting (when the voting of 5 people is equal to the voting of the whole country). Please, remember the voting of Lithuania, for… Read more »
Seriously, I am fed up by this… First of all, even if Russia was playing a game by sending Julia, Ukraine should have been the better country by making exceptions to their laws. Second of all, EBU should had requested Ukraine to make changes to their laws prior to accepting their decision to host. 3rd of all, Jamala’s song shouldn’t had been allowed because of its political message. I also believe Europe gave it to her to punish Russia by ripping scores from Sergey. Those of you who said that the 2015 Armenian entry shouldn’t had been allowed, I think… Read more »
Seriously, I am fed up by this… First of all, even if Russia was playing a game by sending July, Ukraine should have been the better country by making exceptions to their laws. Second of all, EBU should had requested Ukraine to make changes to their laws prior to accepting their decision to host. 3rd of all, Jamala’s song shouldn’t had been allowed because of its political message. I also believe Europe gave it to her to punish Russia by ripping scores from Sergey. Those of you who said that the 2015 Armenian entry should had been allowed, I think… Read more »
@Oxana
Our government does not play any games including those with ESC, it is absolutely stable at the moment and supported by the majority of Russians. We have some serious government which doesn’t depend on ESC result… mmm? I am really sorry that the Ukranians having “moderate” views like you regard Russia as an enemy and push your government to act this way. I am used to respect Ukrainans the same much as Russians and due to some personal reasons I’ve never splited these two nations. And this is the reason why I am not able to understand you.
Ruslan 58% want to see her? OK, how many of them want her to be prosecuted for her crime? You know, 100% of Ukrainians want to see escapee Yanukovych in Ukraine 🙂 it does not mean he will enjoy our hospitality 🙂 I don’t want her to be killed or humiliated. there’s no way to prevent it if she’ll enter our country. but hey, I agree to see her on the stage, at her own risk and I don’t want to have remorses if she’ll die because it’s not my business what happens to Russians on our land – that’s… Read more »
Crimea is RUSSIA !!! What is the violation of crossing the border ???
Stop blaming Russia! Russia acted in full accordance with EBU rules. EBU accepted Yulia as participant. Her ban is totally inappropriate!
Nika, your government plays dirty games and unfortunately your leader is shortsighted and no match for our cunning Petro. there’s no real benefif to change president and PM in Ukraine, because Ukrainians with moderate views like myself (tho every Russian here says I’m nazi woman, lol) which is majority of the country population got tired with endless lack of action of government towards Russia as an enemy. If there will be new election or forceful installation of new leader he/she will be absolutely new and will bring more pain for Russia than our merchant. If people with moderate views will… Read more »
*Andorra
Ban them both and let’s bring Slovakia, Andra, Lichtenstein and Luxembourg back.
Enough already……
@Oxana
Thank you for profound explanation and take my apologies for not having told you beforehand that I am Russian. I really didn’t expect this frankness from you but now I know that you are human. The idea of hosting ESC in order to do away with “Russian aggression” or have Crimea back was a bad one and it has already costed too much for Ukranians. Let the contest be held in Ukraine and what happens – happens. The only thing I am worried about now is that in case Russia still participates the security for our delegation is doubtful.
Russia chose Yulia in purpose because they know that people who have visited crimea are banned from Ukraine and also that their singer happend to be disabled is not a coincidence. They want people to feel sorry for her and make Ukraine look lika a monster who teases disabled people. Russia knows exactly what they are doing. Well played game. They didn’t want to participat in the first place, their little game is just to stalling everything. Country who attacks another shouldn’t participate at all.
Oxana, I may be the one but I will tell you – you’re on side of radicals who made a recent blockade on the east, which will result in losing a certain percent from your countries growth, and afterwards people like you will blame again your country leaders for that loss. Last exam for president because of imperial-minded whellchair-bounded singer? Then you have to throw down your president immediately because she’s backed by many more millions people with same mind who will use anything less or more difficult to provoke you. This all makes your country so unstable and failing… Read more »
Of course they can’t relocate the contest at this point, nor can they exclude Ukraine from participating in the Eurovision they themselves are hosting. So, if Russia is unable to participate this year, Ukraine is banned the next, seems fair enough.
Btw remember Russia represents a 130 million people market that the EBU doesn’t want to loose under any circumstances?.
This Deltenere woman reminds me a lot of Christine Lagarde. They both look like they could crush you with a side glance.
About Russia, EBU did not risk anything by their free will, they found themselves in the situation..: ”OMG Ukraine will make us lose Russian money, start damage control ! ”
@Roman12 Because they were fed up with that corrupt Romanian TV channel. OK, I was against those action as well. In both cases EBU follows its own politics of single standard – MONEY! Last year they eliminated Romania, because they have not been paying for years (!). This year they risk to cut their revenues by 15% because of the withdrawal of Russia. Which is more corrupt – EBU or the Romanian Channel?! The answer is obvious.
“I deeply regret the fact that the ESC is being abused for political action” – says Delterne.
and last year you, Delterne, made esc abused for money action!
Regards from Romania.