UPDATE (7 October at 21:10 GMT): Germany’s NDR has released a statement about Iveta’s inclusion in the 2021 selection process. You can read all about it here. Our original post remains below.
Iveta Mukuchyan says that she was in talks to represent Germany at Eurovision in 2021, but ultimately wasn’t picked. The German-Armenian singer believes she was ruled out for waving the Nagorno-Karabakh flag during the voting segment back at Eurovision 2016.
In a long post shared both on Instagram and Facebook, the “Lovewave” singer recounts her brief involvement with the German team for Eurovision 2021.
“What many people don’t know is that this year I got an excited call from Germany that 200 experts voted, without me knowing about it, to discuss me representing Germany at the Eurovision 2021”.
Mukuchyan, who lives in Germany, said “everybody was excited” and so was she. Later, she would receive a call rejecting her as representative, which she said “most likely points to my political move from 2016 by raising awareness about the attack on Kharabagh”.
She refers to a moment during the Eurovision 2016 semifinal. While she was on the green room, she displayed a Nagorno-Karabakh flag. Back then, the incident stirred controversy, and both her and the Azerbaijani contestant Samra were asked about it in the qualifiers press conference. Mukuchyan then said that she “just wanted peace on the borders.”
The German broadcaster has not yet responded to Iveta’s claim nor confirmed that the 2016 flag incident was the reason she wasn’t selected for Eoruvision 2021.
Iveta Mukuchyan’s Instagram post
Now, amid heavy fighting between both countries, Mukuchyan has written an extensive post revealing her feelings and expressing her position on the issue.
“I knew how unpleasant it was for millions of viewers at the Eurovision back in 2016 to engage a few minutes into the discussion about why I put up the Karabagh flag in a contest that doesn’t want to be involved in politics,” she says before explaining her talks with Germany this year.
“As an Armenian living in Germany, I am a patriot in my heart, but educated in a multi-cultural environment. I want to make everyone understand that this is not a war between Azerbaijan/Turkey and Armenia but a war against Alliyev and Erdogan. It’s political and not against its people in the countries, that are mainly unaware of what’s going on in the past and now, as information has been and is absolutely changed and blocked to its people. When Artsakh shoots back they warn the population of Azerbaijan to evacuate, while Azerbaijan is targeting peaceful civilians. not even telling their own people to hide in bunkers.”
“After they told me kindly that even though they would like me to participate they decided not to, I was mad at myself… regretting that my past act of patriotism would influence my career once again… Just a month after this call I wake up in war again this time its assured that 2016 was just a teaser…the real movie is now… it becomes normal to see dead people on TV, hearing about weapons that have never been used in wars before, just in one day it became a normal circumstance for us to send young men directly to die… even with medication I can’t sleep at nights.”
“Waking up every night crying and squeezing my teeth together so heavily that my headache is killing me. Just in one day I can assure that everyone on the street became paralyzed, no one is able to speak, not even thinking about something else rather then worrying about the fact that what we have left may not be anymore…they say when you are on the bottom you find kindness in you. Everybody here helps everyone with everything they have right now. In just one day we have to replan our whole life, most of my family is in Germany/ USA and I am alone freaking out here at home. I don’t want to count my personal losses during the last 10 days because even on a scale it’s a joke compared to what actually matters now…My friends are with me as much as they can but I have to sleep alone and waking up alone to this!”
“We keep ourselves busy in walking around like madman, helping evacuated children and women, sending all our last belongings to the soldiers to keep them warm..Armenia is one of the oldest countries with its oldest culture in the world and its heart is breaking into million pieces once again, loosing its land while still trying to keep up its soul and hope but how many times should we try to recover ? When I cry every day it’s not even because of what is happening but what we’ve been through… how should a man recover from seeing all this during the last 30 years being involved in 3 wars. How should a woman recover from loosing its 18/20 year old sons ones more. How should a youth recover that was just about to grow into a free life. My mother said when the heavy earthquake happened in Gyumri 1988 and 25.000 people died and everyone ran to help finding people under the rubbles, people became half-crazy after what they have seen… she said the feeling, anxiety and paralyzation we feel today reminds her on that time. How should even we recover? Those who always lived a good life, never complained, scrolled away when things got unpleasant and now waking up wishing we would just go back to talk about a deadly virus …the pain embedded in the eyes of an Armenians has added more scarves once more….after Germany declined my participation for 2021 I was really mad at myself for putting up the Kharabagh flag but now I remember again… how could I not, if literally my life and every single Armenians life here depends on you speaking up about what is happening!”
“If the world wouldn’t turn a blind eye, maybe then I could just be an artist without worrying, wouldn’t need to deal with political topics and just create music…maybe then..but now we are in this war alone, fighting weapons we didn’t even know exist! I wish I could have the freedom to sit on a couch and scroll away what I want…I wish I could wake up worrying about things like money, relationships and other things that became nonsense now that we fight for our lives”.
“Right now while you scroll down my message or maybe think about it, the war, like you imagine it from the worst movies, is happening and it will decide if we will exist as a nation tomorrow or not. Through all this years we’ve been taught to survive and to keep going until we win…else we would not come this far. Justice might get sick but will not die in the end…”
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is among the most long-standing region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but the majority of the population is ethnic Armenian. Self-proclaimed authorities are not recognised by any UN member, including Armenia. (Armenia provides military and economic assistance to the region without officially recognising the self-proclaimed enclave). You can read more about this complicated issue on the BBC web site.
What’s your take on this issue? Do you think Iveta is right and that German television avoided picking her due to the incident? Would you like to see her back at Eurovision?
Read more Armenia news here and read more Germany news here
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If ANYONE should represent Germany in Eurovision next year, it should be Ben Dolic.
Can we not pretend that EBU has had its fair share of realpolitik when it comes to the Armenian-Azeri conflict? 2009: Azerbaijani broadcaster cut the transmission during Armenia performance, blocked their voting number and then arrested and interrogated those who had figured out Armenia’s voting number. EBU response? An undisclosed fine. Any other country, would have faced a 3 year ban. 2012: Azerbaijan hosted the contest. Ironically, their postcard title was “Garabagh” which is Azeri for “Karabagh”. 2016: EBU published the list of flags not permitted in the arena – among them, the flag of Karbagh and the ISIS flag… Read more »
Ron jan, wrong, wrong and wrong. 1. Azerbaijani broadcaster did not cut transmission while Armenia was performing. They hid the phone line number for SMS voting, and ITV was fined for that. It was definitely an unacceptable act of the broadcaster employee. Also no one was arrested, someone gave an interview claiming he was interrogated for his vote, but it was later proven to be wrong. I’ve personally voted for Sirusho in 2008 and no one interrogated me. I remember people playing Qele Qele in their cars loudly that year and no one had an issue. 2. Well, it’s internationally… Read more »
How do you feel about Ilham Aliyev?
How do you feel about the Vice President? His wife.
Rashad jan, Actually, it was independently confirmed that Azerbaijan cut the transmission and blocked their voting number and your Ministry of National Security confirmed that people were interrogated for voting for Armenia. Ictimai TV also confirmed that to EBU but went on to provide assurances that it will never happen. In fact, EBU created a new rule that they could hold the broadcaster liable for the actions of their government which is pretty ironic because everyone knows Ictimai is Aliev’s mouthpiece. We all know that display of Karabagh under Azerbaijan’s postcard was a political move. Karabagh is a disputed territory… Read more »
Ron jan, so cute of you to take your time to reply. 1. I was watching the show live on ITV and I’m pretty sure I know what I saw. It was just the phone line. And also, I don’t know how things work over there, but Ministry of National Security does not really announce the list of people they interrogate. Next time check if it actually makes sense. 2. Ron jan, Ron jan, Ron jan, Karabakh is not disputed. All countries, including Armenia recognize it as part or Azerbaijan. These things should be taught at school, I mean I… Read more »
Dear Rashad, plz stop giving explanations. Whenever I scroll through this page I see your answers. Good for you. I understand your feelings. But they aren’t a six-year old child. If they are interested enough they will search and get to direct facts rather than relying on their so called ‘common sense, beliefs, hearings’ those are based on only their own experiences. Additionally, they live kilometres away from here and they somewhat have ‘loose’ information about region. Don’t try to change their thoughts about Azerbaijan. I mean what a waste of time. Let it be! Have a good day, dear… Read more »
How do you feel about Ilham Aliyev?
She was asked a question about it and she answered indicating that she wants to spread waves of love and peace. What’s so bad about that? At least her song wasn’t about a “historic” event (i.e., 1944).
Lmao, and what about Face the Shadow aka Don’t Deny??! 😀
It wasn’t her song, but from the same country..
So if it’s ‘genuine feelings’ it’s okay to get politic? Noted. I’m sure iveta’s feelings were genuine. I also agree jamala was a deserved winner.
they could but they withdrawn for security reasons
I have doubts about this
Armenia and Azerbaijan are now at war and yet both confirmed for 2021… this will be pleasant 🙁
I am looking forward to see who will Armenia pick and what new cool song can Efendi bring, but I am also worried about what goes on in there.
If they REALLY can’t agree to save their lives *LITERALLY*, then maybe this region should be named a separate country altogether with dual presidency. But I guess that wouldn’t sooth people who are out for blood. 🙁
I am sending my best wishes to people of Armenia and Azerbaijan affected by this.
Unfortunately geopolitical tensions are part and parcel of ESC, and a lot of countries exert soft power against their rival in international competitions. In fact, there is a specific wikipedia page detailing the Armenian-Azeri rivalry at ESC itself!
I’m sorry if my tone sounded jovial, because I do agree that the rivalry is bad and we should all hope for lasting peace in the region. However, we can’t expect that feuding countries will be friendly during ESC, it’s a sad fact of life to expect their rivalries to spill over into the contest
I want this rivalry to be just about the songs and Athena v samira. Chains is one of those songs that will stand out for years to come, and Cleopatra, whilst not as good in my opinion, is a unique entry by Azeri standards, and makes brilliant TV, and both showcase that Eurovision is to celebrate important matters like LGBT rights even when neither nation is all there on that matter – it would have been the first contest since 2010 with both in the top 10. Also, Athena I haven’t really taken my eyes off since hearing Chains. My… Read more »
THIS! On my personal list, Athena entered top 10 and her song is absolutely creative and unique. Samira entered top 15 with her, musically creative, lyrically hilariously absurd, song. Both songs would’ve qualified with ease, IMHO. This is what ESC should be about.
Chains is my no 1 with Iceland and Malta my no 2 and no 3. Cleopatra is just above halfway but would have been in my top 10 on many other occasions. I liked over 30 of the songs all in all (sorry Latvia, though at least you were ace TV, Spain, Cyprus, Norway, Australia, Georgia, Albania, Slovenia, Belarus and Moldova – I still respect you all).
Strangely, my no 1 last year was Truth, which I voted for in the heat. Which others have had Azerbaijan their fave one year and Armenia the next?
Agree about athena and efendi, bith have nailed it with their songs. Athena is my 6th in my eurovision 2020 top and efendi is my 4th. I can’t wait to see with what both of these girls will come up for eurovision 2021 (efendi is already confirmed to return while there are rumors that athena will also return as well)
I would certainly like Athena to involve the fans in some way with it when it comes (there have been stories saying this matter, implied by her, David Tserunyan and DJ Paco at various points since the show was canned, will be confirmed after the kid’s contest, and that she has written scores of material with it in mind), and she has also said she’ll release a ballad soon, and also the album she promised William, which (Chains, highly catchy made-for-summer tropical tune with goldfinger video Dolla, and older material aside) could theoretically include the entry.
So let me get this straight—she didn’t even apply for it and yet they called her that she was rejected. How unprofessional.
Of course question is does anybody remember 2016 and what Iveta did then? ESC artists and fans often seem to think their performances and actions stays in in people’s minds. People forget the song after the show, yet alone what someone did during voting. So while it was a big deal for Iveta it probably most likely isn’t the reason for not being selected. It can simply be she wasn’t good enough..
yes. a lot of people remember. why do you have to be so insufferably negative constantly Denis
OK?
First of all, let’s wait for an official announcement from the German broadcaster Also, isn’t she living in Germany? So what is she talking about being so afraid and not sleeping well at nights? If she’s in Germany and so are her family members, then how come she’s feeling like that? Anyway, I’m not an expert nor do I even know the basics of details of this topic, so I wouldn’t say anything about it I just wish them to stop fighting and solve it by speaking I wish the best for both Armenian people and Azeri people and of… Read more »
Well you’re doubting her words so you are saying something about it. And in this case there are aggressors and people receiving the aggression, it’s not just Armenian and Azeri people not being able to solve their differences.
She’s in Armenia. She lives and grew up in Hamburg, but she’s been in Armenia for a week and then war started…
I like Iveta, and really liked LoveWave, but I can see why it wouldn’t make sense for her to represent Germany, particularly with everything that’s going in Nagorno-Karabakh at the moment, which might make her selection seem politically motivated.
I really liked Lovewave and her performance back in 2016, but it was really unnecessary that she waved that flag. She knew exactly that it was forbidden, and no, it was not a spontaneous action, as she claimed back then, since she literally brought it with her to the green room. Moreover, back in 2017, when she was invited to the German “Songcheck”, she also claimed that Azerbaijan’s song “Skeletons” was first sent to her, but that she rejected it later, which can not be true, since Azeri composer, Isa Melikov, composed the song specially for Dihaj’s style. Plus, Iveta… Read more »
Ah ok. So no reference to the ongoing military conflict? Just songs and songwriters and song contests? I’d love to actually see an Azeri person having an opinion about politics and war and freedom of speech just once. When it comes to the serious situations established by their political leadership, Azeri people are particularly silent but it is too easy for them stepping up condemning any attempt at politicizing.
First, Germany refusing to choose Ben once again and then refusing to choose Iveta… Germany seems to be on the right way to hear once again “Germany, I’m sorry, Zero points”.
Given how the tensions in the Caucasus have been flaring up in the last few weeks, it’s understandable as to why other broadcasters wouldn’t want to insult either country by picking a representative associated with the other- does Germany want to be ranked 24th across the board by Azerbaijan like Cyprus was in 2017?
I admire Iveta, I really do…but isn’t it more likely that her entry was just beaten by other, better songs? 199 of the 200 are going to be in the same position.
I think it’s a bit ridiculous of the german Team, that their internal Jury, (the selection method, why they haven’t pick Ben Dolic internally) picked Iveta and now they’re saying “oh no, we cant do this, she gave her opinion on a political thing. Everyone will think germany and the government are on the armenian side”. I’m sorry to say that, but if that’s the reason, than their internal selection is ridiculous.
When did they say that? Iveta is making an assumption.
Germany already sucks up to China, Russia and Islammists, autocratic Azerbaijan a perfect fit.
I think it’s a bit ridiculous of the german Team, that their internal Jury, (the selection method, why they haven’t pick Ben Dolic internally) picked Iveta and now they’re saying “oh no, we cant do this, she gave her opinion on a political thing. Everyone will think germany and the government are on the armenian side”. I’m sorry to say that, but if that’s the reason, than their internal selection is ridiculous.
Lovewave had one of my all time favourite stage presentations and performance on Eurovision. Give the woman a stronger song and she could be a winner
I don’t like people clamoring for Iveta or Foureira for next year when I want focus on the pair’s heir Athena Manoukian (a Greek Of Armenian descent who is sometimes based in Hannover and whose stageshow would have been SJB) and a set up of her to be even bigger than those 2. Chains on You is one of my fave songs of the year, I see it as a winner, I see lots of potential in Athena, and have promoted Chains to various mixers, Arianators, Normani stans and lovatics with some successes including one drawer making an ace drawing… Read more »
Countries who are in war i think should have a break from ESC. So no Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan in ESC 2021. If those 4 are in you know its going to be DRAMA!!!!. 3 of them have dictators. Armenia is okey.
Why should they have a break, participating has nothing to do with war, also you missed Ukraine and Georgia. Russia successfully hosted 2018 World Cup and Azerbaijan with the 2019 Europa League final, so what’s wrong with them participating???? Belarus is another story
Russia were a successful host, but, whilst he was an increasingly peripheral player for us who wouldn’t have played much in the game if it was elsewhere, and who we sold off to Italy, the fact that we had a player barred because of this conflict was saddening, and we lost 4-1 despite being favourites.
My team won 4-1 in Baku!!! And yes Mhyktarian issue was but Armenia was in Baku 2015 European Games
Imagine an Eleni v Dami v Iveta showdown in 2021. Convenient, because I think they’ve been Wiwibloggs’ (or Williams) most hyped/favorite acts the last years lol. Would be the year of the divas for sure
No Iveta… We don’t need another nationalist propaganda in Eurovision. Thanks
Have you ever looked at the 2012 show? When it was time for azerbaijan to perform the postcard literally said ‘land of Qarabag” and EBU let it slide.
What do you mean by “let it slide”?! It is literally internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.. Even Armenia doesn’t officially recognize Karabakh as an independent state.
So, there is nothing wrong with showing a region of one’s own country.
It is technically recognised as Azerbaijan, but Nagorno-Karabakh is almost wholly governed by the republic of Artsakh, which is a de facto state with an Armenian ethnic majority. I am personally of the belief that neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia should be showing anything to do with Nagorno-Karabakh in the Eurovision space since both countries know that just mentioning it will cause outrage in the opposite country (and, frankly, the only way for this conflict to die down in my opinion is for Nagorno-Karabakh to declare itself independent since I do not think Armenia or Azerbaijan will ever stop fighting for… Read more »
Well, unfortunately international law is not determined based on your ‘belief’. Azerbaijan has the right to feature Karabakh on anything just like UK featuring London or France showing Paris in their postcards.
And unfortunately common sense is not based on your patriotism, Rashad. For as long as both Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to show pictures of Nagorno-Karabakh, the war between the two countries will only escalate. From your name it is easy to judge that you are, I am assuming, Azerbaijani, so in all honestly your position is incredibly biased, and the same goes for any Armenian’s perspective. From an outside view, which is honestly what you need, your war is ridiculous. You are deliberately provoking the Armenian side, and the Armenian side is deliberately provoking yours. But neither of you will… Read more »
That’s a false equivalency. No one disputes that London and Paris are part of the UK and France respectively.
Exactly! No one disputes about Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan either. Even Armenia.
They deliberately used it as the postcard for Azerbaijan’s song to insult Armenia. They made it political. Propaganda.
And what of Stefania, Samira (Effendi), Eden, Destiny and hopefully my fave of the class of 2020, Athena? I don’t want their development to be harmed by these names of reknown.
Except we know for a fact that none of the three are competing
And to be honest, with the current tensions in the region, I don’t think any nation other than Armenia or Azerbaijan would be sending contestants who are member of those countries’ diasporas.
Wasn’t aware that Iveta still lives in Germany, I thought given how successful she is in the Armenian music industry that she had moved there. It’s a shame that NDR didn’t pick her, given that being a fan favourite and working with a new broadcaster meant that a great return effort would be likely. However, if Germany sent her they’d be 24th in the final uniformly across the Azeri public and jurors, although she could pick up 24 points from Armenia?