In April, Ukrainian authorities banned Russia’s Julia Samoylova from entering the country after they discovered that she had broken laws surrounding Crimea. And on Thursday it emerged that they’d turned their attention to Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov.
According to Reuters, footage began to circulate online which showed the semi-final two favourite performing in the annexed peninsula. However, unlike Russia’s mooted Eurovision singer, the powers that be have ruled that the “Beautiful Mess” singer did not breach any rules.
The contentious legislation only came into effect in late 2014, months after Kristian’s visit in June of the same year. The rising star entered the region along with his The Voice Kids co-stars for a special concert dedicated to International Children’s Day. He sang two songs. At the time, there were no legal barriers forbidding him from entering the disputed region.
Furthermore, he was only 14 years old. As such, he didn’t have the legal capacity to make decisions on such matters. Additionally, his parents didn’t accompany him on the trip, and organisers never sought consent from them.
In a press release published earlier today, the Bulgarian delegation confirmed that there was no wrongdoing on Kristian’s part. This was backed up by an Interfax report in which the Ukrainian Security Service reiterated that there was no evidence that he’d broken any laws prior to arriving in Kyiv for the contest.
Kristian Kostov at Eurovision 2017
Bulgaria is the favourite to win tonight’s second semi-final. The bookies have the X Factor alum well ahead of the competition with his odds as low as 4/7 and shortening just hours ahead of the semi. His stage show — choreographed by Sweden’s Sacha Jean-Baptiste — exudes a high art sensibility and sees him interacting with digital effects on his LED and those overlayed on the TV screen.
Born in Russia, Kostov is expected to attract much of the televote points that would normally go to the absent Russia. He’s already received much support in the region with Eurovision 2008 winner Dima Bilan backing him to win.
- The Beautiful Mess t-shirt
- Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov phone
- Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov shirt
Buy the “Beautiful Mess” t-shirt, Bulgaria cartoon phone cover, or Kristian Kostov cartoon t-shirt
Hi there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this website.
Anyway I would be glad, if Kristian wins and we’ll wait for him in Crimea 🙂
Celebrate Diversity in 2017 😀
Participants of the Russian show “Comedy Woman” gave concert in Crimea on march this year and few days later they gave concert in Kiev, Palace of Sport (Eurovision 2005 venue). Russian singer Yuliana Karaulova also gave concerts in Ukraine after visiting Crimea. More questions?
P.S. Sorry for my Google-translate english 🙂
It was obvious that Ukraine would find a reason for banning ANY Russian artist from Eurovision.
If the EBU has any brains, they will later this year sanction both Russia and Ukraine. In the following manner: “participation in the contest is allowed, but hosting in case of win, is not — until the Crimean and Eastern Ukraine conflict is resolved”.
HE WENT BEFORE THE LAW WAS CREATED and he was a MINOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s nice that you’re trying to explain these things to the readers. But there always will be trolls who couldn’t care less about facts. Second semi is in less than 1 hour. Let’s all have some fun today and forget about political provocations 🙂
We all know he’s been there several times since 2014, as has the Armenian representative.
This “ban” was always ONLY going to be applied to the Russian representative, regardless of who Russia chose.
Was there even some sort of an official statement regarding Armenia? I remember reading an article saying there might be an ivestigation, but I can’t recall anything else…?
It is all a ridiculous mess.
Artsvik confirmed that she had never visited Crimea.
Oh, thanks!
This is a good clarification regarding Kristian’s situation. BUT, people have pointed out examples where others have performed/visited Crimea through Russia, and were still allowed to perform/visit Ukraine afterwards. Given that they apparently can arbitrarily decide when to apply this law, they could have easily extended the same grace to Yulia for two weeks.
I swear none of you guys can actually read. The article says HE WENT BEFORE THE LAW WAS CREATED and he was a MINOR.
I think none of them actually read the article, only the title. Typical.
The problem is that he hasn’t been checked BEFORE entering Ukraine. That’s why it’s double standards.
And I’m pretty sure, that if someone from Russia had visited Ukraine before that law was introduced, they still would have been sanctioned. And by the way no one actually confirmed that that law had been created later.
Sorry but this is entirely unfair. You can’t just sanction one person for something and then turn a blind eye to someone who has done the same. Totally unprofessional from Ukraine here. It’s just ridiculous
But they won’t sanction him because:
a) he’s not Russia
b) he’s one of the favourites to win
Politics shouldn’t be entering the eurovision stage and its a disgrace that they were even allowed to enter themselves last year with their ‘unpolitical’ – as they put it – 1944. I think there should be stricter rules on political things in the contest.
How is it unfair? Please read the article again. Kristian was there BEFORE the law was created. Julia was there AFTER the law passed. She broke it, he didn’t. Simple as that.
You are correct and I am wrong. I didn’t understand the article. Please accept my apologies. I’m sorry.
Point about 1944 still stands however.
To the idiots in the comments that don’t understand how laws work: Kristian performed in 2014, before the law was even brought up in court. The law was placed in 2015, which was before Yuliya played her concert. It’s kind of hard to prosecute someone for breaking a law that didn’t even exist at the time of their act.
but that fact that there’s even a discussion about prosecuting Kristian is kind of ridiculous. Especially since he didn’t break the law and he’s just a kid.
Discussion was actively forced today by russian media front and some of ukrainian oppositioners. Ridiculous but that’s a political borsch there in action.
oh yes…it’s how the law works. sure
La mamma degli idioti è sempre incinta
Double standards Ukraine.
They only ever had eyes for Russia to strike them with this ‘law’.
Can’t you read? He’s been to Crimea BEFORE the law was even created! Nulla poena sine lege!
He is from Russia and don’t know English. So I think he can’t read 😀
But they checked him only AFTER he entered Ukraine
Okay, really? It’s like some little kid who’s supposed to invite the whole class to their birthday party but maybe we’ll kick out one person. Oh, and we should look and see who else we can kick out. We should flaunt our power, right?! Cuz that’ll really make us look cool. Seriously, Ukraine. Get over it. Not that Russia isn’t annoying either. Both of them are acting like little kids.
Read the article.
Is this now further evidence that Yuliya’s ban was to provoke Russia and the EBU? I really like Eurovision 2017 and Celebrate Diversity, and I have noting against Ukraine, but this looks very fishy.
You would be right if he had visited Crimea through Russia when the law was in place. However, he visited in June 2014 and the law that prevented Yulia from coming was passed in the end of 2014. Therefore his visit to Crimea was not a criminal offense.
Ukraine= the most ridicoulous host ever
Absolutely.
Hopefully they won’t win again any time soon.