On Friday Ukrainian media leaked a letter from the head of the EBU to Ukraine’s Prime Minister, in which she lambasted Ukraine’s decision to ban Julia Samoylova from Eurovision, writing that the move would have a “very big impact on Ukraine’s international reputation as a modern, democratic European nation.”

And on Saturday a defiant Ukraine snapped back as the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kyrylenko released a YouTube video re-affirming Russia’s existing position.

“The Russian participant Julia Samoylova, unfortunately, has violated Ukrainian legislation performing in the annexed Crimea,” he says in the video, which was uploaded to his press service’s YouTube account.

“Ukraine, when it comes to the Crimea, bases its point of view on decisions of all international organisations, and no international organisation in the world has recognised the annexation of Crimea. We’re defending not only our Ukrainian legislation, but we also adhere to the norms of the international law and defend the status of this international law in Ukraine.”

He made it clear that the ban is not on Russia, but rather its singer.

“I can reiterate that Russia can take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv, but only if there is a participant who has not violated Ukrainian legislation. I think that France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland or any other member of the European Broadcasting Union would have taken the same decision.”

“It is unprecedented and unacceptable to demand unprecedented decisions from Ukraine in favour of Russia and in violation of our own legislation and, by the way, the norms of the international law.”

The Vice Prime Minister made assurances that if Russia fields another act — who has not violated its laws — that Ukraine will treat the Russian delegation as any other, affording them the same reception and security services. He also made it clear they are prepared to stage Eurovision with 42 acts instead of 43.

Read more Ukraine Eurovision news

129 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Vegas City Hall, Moscow, April 21.
Participants: Bulgaria, Greece, Moldavia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Switzerland, Italy and, of course, Russia’s Julia Samoylova!

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

By the way, Russian pre-pery April 21!!

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Yeah. Ukraine do not deserve to host!

Benclicks
Benclicks
6 years ago

Move the contest to another country. Everyone knew last year after Jamala’ victory that Ukraine hosting this year will be a total disaster.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

@ Julie

I’m tired of American elections, but you can be sure that Putin did everything he could. What is that you don’t understand about Putin’s personality. He is not the person who just waits when he can do something. He was trained by KGB, and the relation between him and KGB was a match made in heaven.
If he could do it, he did it!

Melrose
Melrose
6 years ago

Oxana , get a life sweetie. There is a beautiful life outside wiwiblog chats. You seem to be here 24/7. Poor thing.

Julie
Julie
6 years ago

@Pollaski Oh I absolutely agree that they’re using Russia as their scapegoat for their embarrassing losses. But it’s pretty awful to ratchet up tensions with a nuclear power (and to smear the careers of respected journalists!) all to further their political agenda. As for Syria, I feel the same as I do with Crimea: let the people living there decide who they want for themselves. I believe the US has been on the wrong side here (and it saddens me to say so). There’s a reason Tulsi Gabbard had to introduce the “Stop Arming Terrorists Act”…enough said. The examples you… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

Vova Trump won’t destroy NATO, on the contrary, he upped their spendings and more than 1000 soldiers appeared in 175km from Russian border in Europe just a few days ago. Also Trump said to Russia to get out of Crimea. I guess NATO is doing better than ever, thanks to Russian paranoid nature. from what I heard Rusisans started to look at the Balcans again, they need new “success” because of not so successful wars in Syria and Ukraine. They’re going to bully one of the Balcan countries government into buying their weapon and maybe they will come up with… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

dilber
“Your ultrarightwing nationalist ‘friends’ started actions agains majority of russian occupants”
haha, indeed. our people dislike occupants, anything new? 🙂

do you have link to document passed by Rada that allowed Russia to extend bases contract? or it’s just your sicxk imagination? from what I recall our Rada literally had to fight over that draft… unless Yanukovich took it with him to Russia like that letter where he asked Russian president to attack Ukraine (poor Churkin had to die because of that letter, that was his last lie, lol)
soo…. I’m all ears 🙂

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

American military bases are everywhere in NATO, meaning also Bulgaria and Romania. Russia said that is just a game for them that they allow these countries to be in NATO a little time more. I wonder what will happen if Trump destroys NATO.
Is true that Americans that work at that bases have nothing to do, but to keep themselves busy with local prostitutes, but why is Russia trying to divide and conquer any country around?

Dilbert0815
Dilbert0815
6 years ago

@Oxana: As you continue spreading your antirussioan hatred we can also speak on same level … Janukowitsch agreed already to 25 years extention of Krim bases lease in 2012. Your ultrarightwing nationalist ‘friends’ started actions agains majority of russian occupants frighten them to death about their lifes. No wonder these majorities were easy to convince by Russia that joining would be better than waiting for their uncertain future in an nationalistic Ukariane. It’s this antirussian hatred openly shown by new kiew rulers that stated all these motions in russian dominated regions. And Kiew did nothing to stop this, no talks,… Read more »

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

My sympathies are with Ukraine politically but this is clearly a ban on Russia- how can they be expected to choose an artist and new song in 5 weeks?

jj
jj
6 years ago

Crimea was illegally taken from Russia and given to Ukraine by Khrushchev.
The people had no vote whatsoever, and Ukraine did nothing to earn it or conquer it. It was part of Russia much longer than part of Ukraine.

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

haha, finally we’re seeing all this hysterical propaganda about NATO basas in Crimea 🙂 in fact, Russian had their bases in Crimea rented till 2017. guess that had to happen after that time? 🙂 Ukraine had an intention to kick Russians from Crimea so they would lose their lovely spot to treaten all Black Sea region with their black smoke from fleet (that admiral kuvnetsov is hilarious example of Russian technical progress and their army in general) it’s 2017 already and you haven’t prolonged your agreement to have a single soldier in Crimes, lieave alove bases. what you’re doing in… Read more »

Nika
Nika
6 years ago

@Pollaski =) I am (a) Russian who’s used to spend vacations in Crimea for decades. I’ve never stopped doing it and I’ve never seen a single soldier or tank there and what I am witnessing now is that life becomes better and people are happy there. Russia is capable to provide it. We don’t mind Ukraine to join NATO and don’t prevent it from doing it. But leave Crimea alone please=) It was Russian before 1954 and now it is Russian again de facto and nothing can be done about it. Using ESC or any other platform won’t help Ukraine.… Read more »

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

Not Ukraine lost the Crimea, but US. In Crimea US planned to set up their military bases, but the Russians were smarter. Therefore now angry both the US and their vassals. As for Kosovo’s okay, even did not need a referendum, because Kosovo is detached from Serbia according to the US plan.

Pollaski 3: Rise of the Machines
Pollaski 3: Rise of the Machines
6 years ago

@Tom Your google translate has failed miserably, son. That was completely incomprehensible. @Nika Oh god no… not NATO! Whatever would Crimea do if they had a few thousand American and Western European soldiers staying there? I mean, besides take their money and grow the local economy by quite a bit. But again, answer me this. What business is it of Russia if Ukraine joins NATO or the EU? What right do they have to prevent it from happening? And what exactly should Ukraine do about it? Go to full scale war? With the second most powerful military on Earth, with… Read more »

Anka
Anka
6 years ago

In my opinion, it is way too dangerous for the Russian delegation to come to Kiev. Julia should stay safe and away from the failed state and all the proper mess in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities scared to death to be responsible for some ugly occurrences of violence against either the Russian delegation or simple Russian fans. It is precisely why the Ukrainian authorities invented the reason to ban Russia. They clearly cannot provide security for Julia personally. They thought it would be easier to not let Russians to participate at all. It’s a simple stupid, but practical solution which… Read more »

Nika
Nika
6 years ago

@Pollaski “But Russia is the bad guy in Crimea- they invaded another country unprovoked for the sake of annexing territory. Its no different than what the Germans did in the Sudentland, and Ukraine has every right in the world to be pissed about it. The referendum and polls don’t matter. The Crimea was Ukraines, and Russia had no cause to violate their sovereignty and take it for themselves. If Mexico were to decide that the southwest US was “culturally Mexican”, and decide to invade us and take it back, should we be okay with that?” You don’t really think that… Read more »

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Pollaski
In Chechnya frequently arrested terrorists, between Chechen are terrorists, Islamic State fighters.
If in a Muslim land something special began to annoy the Muslims, that to organize gay pride marches, the residents were able to rise up against the teaser. Let the homosexuals attempts to organize parades in Saudi Arabia or other Muslim land.
Primary source
https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2017/04/01/71983-ubiystvo-chesti

Anka
Anka
6 years ago

Last year when I watched in complete disbelief how Russia was robbed of victory in Eurovision at the Grand Final, I remember writing at this forum (possibly other places on the net) that what had been done then, would never be left unanswered. Such horrible unfairness of universal scale is punished relentlessly by higher forces. Those who get involved in such obvious wrongdoings will most likely fall victim of their own malicious contemplation; and in the end, justice will be restored. It made me sad and upset to see nothing happening right after the Eurovision contest 2016 was over. Russia… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

Nika unlike Russian trolls who have a small farm of “nicks” to post their crap, while thinking the more diversity in nicks the more trust they will achieve I’m not going to follow their low intelligence tricks to get attention. I don’t care for support of readers because I’m not lacking support. people like me are merely observers and trolls, not support seekers. and in case if your Russian troll farm will try to create fake posts under my name you should know that I use very unique exit point (my OS, browser model in addition to IP range that… Read more »

Pollaski
Pollaski
6 years ago

@Tom

Yeah, the new york times tends to not do April Fools jokes about international massacres.

You are clearly mentally ill. I’d say seek help, but I’m pretty sure the “help” in your Russophilic nation would simply be more indoctrination.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Oxana
I’m not Russian.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Oxana
Article By ANDREW E. KRAMER, APRIL 1, 2017.

April Fools’ Day.

Nika
Nika
6 years ago

@Oxana You should maybe change nicks sometimes to try and make people take your provocative attempts seriously.

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

for everyone who thinks that kiiling of gays in Russia is a fool’s day joke

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/world/europe/chechen-authorities-arresting-and-killing-gay-men-russian-paper-says.html?_r=0

Chechen spokeperson Karimov even said they have no gays because if there will be any, their relatives would kill them. disgusting
everyone who wants Russia to compete in European contest must be share their values? if you want them to be a part of the contest no matter what you must be one of the latent perverts who does not value human life and freedom to be himself. what are you doing in ESC fan club?

Pollaski
Pollaski
6 years ago

@Julie The only reason there is an obsession with Russia right now in America is because of so many politicians and media figures being hystrical over St. Hillary losing. My take on Russia is simple- I’d would much rather them be an ally than an enemy, and I see them as an ally in one theater, and a rival in another. The only issue I have with Russia in Syria is that we didn’t take that action first. That whole war is just evil (ISIS) fighting evil (Assad), while the good people (the Yazidis, Kurds, etc) do whatever they can… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

tom
April 2th, you Russian idiot.
this news is already on all sites like pink news, guardian, etc
your dear TerroRussia kills people just because they are accused to be from LGBT, your government checks social network pages of its citizens and then arrests everyone they feel is not “straight” enough
even Russian press confirms it happened

disgusting beasts, you should be banned from all contests forever

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Vova
My country is a neighbor of Russia. Putin is a great leader. No danger from Russian side can not see. Hazard visible only to those who have benefited from the intimidation of Russia.

Rhingo
Rhingo
6 years ago

Julia is not a victim because she is handicapped. She is one because what is happening with her participation is wrong. Even if a regular singer was at her place nothing would have changed.
I understand that Ukraines are angry and need a way to put their middle finger up in the face of Russia but ESC is not the way to go.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Oxana
April 1.

MS
MS
6 years ago

I think that Julia is a grown up! I don’t think we should petty her just becaus she is has a handicap. She is probably smart enof to understand the concekvenses of har actions. She made a choice. Some people want to make ber a victum. I think that that says alot about how people looks at disabled people. Sha has to be held acontable the same way as any other person.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

@ Julie

Fine, so you are an American tired of last year elections and propaganda.
Now please listen to people who live in countries that are neighbors/or almost neighbors with Russia. Russians may be normal people, but Putin will never stop, never. In the best case scenario we get constant teasing, in the worst…just invasion and executions. Russians are fine, but never Putin, he will go as far as he can.

Plum
Plum
6 years ago

@anonymous91 We surely have some but they are very few I am not sure that they can SING=)

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

news from Russia~

More than 100 men suspected of being gay have been detained by police in the predominantly Muslim region of Russia, according to Novaya Gazeta, and at least three were killed. The “preventative cleansing,” as it’s been referred to, was prompted by LGBT activists filing permitd to hold rallies in cities in the North Caucasus.
http://www.newnownext.com/chechnya-gay-purge/04/2017/

Julie
Julie
6 years ago

@Pollaski I think I remember interacting with you here on wiwibloggs last year (if you’re not that person, please excuse me). If I recall correctly, you’re an American too. As you may have realized, we are inundated with hatred for Russia day in and day out. That’s all our media and politicians talk about anymore: Russia, Russia, Russia. If one were to listen to them, one would come away believing that Russia controlled every election in the world, and is responsible for every evil happening right now. It’s sad to say that this is hardly an exaggeration of how they… Read more »

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

@Plum

okay maybe Russia has another singer who can perform in Kiev, but at least it’s something good coming from Ukraine 🙂

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

@mawnck – ”Russia could bomb Sweden and they’d still be eligible to participate, because it’s the EBU’s Contest and the Russian broadcasters are EBU members.”

Yes, Russia, but not the person who did it, exactly what Ukraine said.

cars10
cars10
6 years ago

sorry, meant to write “throats”… silly me.

cars10
cars10
6 years ago

Hmm, it’s funny to read through some of the comments, and seeing how biased both parties are. First, a good move from the Ukraine, putting the onus back to the Russian delegation in deciding to send another artist. That’ll be just fair in my humble pov. Second, now it will become evident to most of you that Russia is not serious in competing at all. Unlikely that they will send a replacement, just a wild guess of mine, it will be escalated further. Third, the ESC is not dead just because two rather conflicting parties go at each others’ throughts.… Read more »

Plum
Plum
6 years ago

@anonymous91 Sending Sergey Lazarev is a good idea but the problem is that almost all Russian artists have performed in Crimea within the last 3 years and Sergey is not an exclusion. He visited Crimea the last summer to judge children’s New Wave.

Tony Rossini
Tony Rossini
6 years ago

Ukraine is absolutely a disgrace as ESC organisers. Eurovision has always been political,especially when it comes to voting….but Ukraine has taken it to a new level.
Crimea has been Russian fro over 250 years, Ukraine SSR inherited by default fro administrative purposes in 1954, when that buffoon Premier Khrushchev made an unauthorised transfer.
You will not find any graves of Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea from the Crimean War….they simply don’t exist.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

If the Ukrainians as law-abiding, it’s all the Ukrainians to return to Ukraine, as most of you live in the European Union Member States illegally, it is a violation of the law.

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

thank you Ukraine, yes Russia should participate this year, and maybe Sergey Lazarev again with the same song Flame is Burning 🙂

btw i’m so glad to be supporting some underrated countries this year

Team Yodel-It, every eurovision fan stay positive, feel happy 🙂

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Aqua Azure
Laughter of you talk about the law, in Ukraine above the law are the money and right of the strong.
The laws are democratic and undemocratic. Do you think that laws that punish people for an opinion, is democratic. Many Russian artists are included in the list of Ukraine’s SBU simply because it said their views.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

@Jonas
Kosovo without referendum of the people who live there detached from Serbia, what to say about it, all right, because your boss the Americans wanted, that the Americans needed? Kosovo has always been a part of Serbia’s territory.

Tim
Tim
6 years ago

Ukraine is obviously far from becoming a decimcratic european nation. Rather backwards nationalist eastern european sh..hole

Dilbert0815
Dilbert0815
6 years ago

@MS
I fear you are still missing the point that making an exception for a specific event doesn’t change the law.
In contrary it seems that UA is allready making exceptions from this law. Be it for the journalists or artistst in Ellas remark or about the Comedy Women example. They do NOT apply the law equally, they make political and ökonomically motivated exceptions. So the question still stands: why do they instist so strongly on the opponents kandidate.

Lars
Lars
6 years ago

It is not Ukraine that spoils the Eurovision Song Contest. It is EBU. Shame on you EBU for not showing Ukraine the respect they deserve. Russia has to follow the law like all others. Australia should also not be taking part anymore. It was said from the beginning that Australia could take part ONCE, and only ONCE!!! So EBU, YOU are the reason we have this situation. YOU accepted that Ukraine broke the rules last year, by taking part with a political song, and now we have this mess.