The drama in Ukraine just won’t stop. On Sunday the country’s Eurovision broadcaster Suspilne said that Alina Pash had not violated any rules by visiting Crimea in 2015. They cited documents supplied to them by the state border control agency which showed that the “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” songstress had entered Crimea via the land border, which is allowed under Ukrainian law.
However, at a press conference held in Ukraine on Monday afternoon, the broadcaster said that they are now investigating whether the documents they received are authentic. They will not sign a contract securing Alina Pash’s Eurovision participation until their investigation is complete.
Ukraine: Suspilne investigating Alina Pash Crimea travel documents
In a newly released statement, the broadcaster said:
“In connection with the information received from citizens about the possible forgery of the certificate of crossing the state border with Crimea by Alina Pash, the Public Broadcaster appeals to the SBGS [State Border Guard Service of Ukraine] and asks to confirm or deny the fact of forgery of a civil service document.”
“The public [broadcaster] will not sign an agreement on participation in the international Eurovision Song Contest with the winner of the National Selection until the investigation and fact-finding is completed.”
“It will be recalled that Public has already applied to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, but was denied information about crossing the border by the participant, as this information is confidential. The participant’s team provided a certificate, allegedly received by her, which became the basis for the continued participation of Alina Pash in the National Selection.”
“The final of the National Selection for Eurovision, which will be held in Turin (Italy) on May 14, took place on February 12 in Ukraine. According to the results of the voting, the singer Alina Pash won with the song “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”, and the Kalush Orchestra took second place, receiving one point less. After the winner was announced, Kalush participants announced [allegations of falsification] and their intention to challenge the results of the competition in court.”
As we told you earlier today, Alina has been at the centre of a controversy over whether she entered Crimea illegally.
In the weeks before the selection show, commenters on social media wrote that Alina Pash had previously visited Crimea via a flight from Moscow, thus breaking one of the selection’s rules.
This rumour emerged after a 2019 interview Alina had with Kateryna Osadcha’s programme Svitske zhittya. There, the Vidbir winner mentioned that she visited in Crimea in 2015. Specifically, she used the word “to fly” when she described her trip to the peninsula.
In an interview to Timur Miroshnychenko last week, Alina stated that she did in fact not fly to into Crimea. Instead, she said that she went there by bus. She noted that the fragment with Kateryna Osadcha was taken out of context. She added that she did not go to Crimea for a performance but for a private affair. Suspilne subsequently received physical proof from Alina that she indeed passed the land border.
?? That was the #Vidbir press conference. Highlights:
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 14, 2022
? Organisers defend results
? Alina Pash again under investigation and not yet appointed as official representative
? Voting reveal scene issues were a human error
? No split results yet
Update: Papers are fake. STEFANIA MAMO MAMO STEFANIAAA
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-60388401 She is suspended officially.
It will turn out their lead singer secretly ate her grandma’s cake in 1998.
At this point I expect them to be legit again in like 5 hours xd ffs
Im so sick of it… come on Ukraine.. let Alina compete!
Oh nothing surprises me anymore about Ukraine and Russia as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan, Im Armenian and I just want peace on our borders and the whole world .
Just let us unite and share the joy. !
PLEASE -PLEASE
Suspilne instagram confirmed that the papers were fake ..
They’re fake….
who?
Good riddance. 1 less snooze act/bathroom break.
Ok Kalush.
Bathroom break? Lmao this would easily win Eurovision
It can win Eurovision and be a bathroom break. It happened before and with same country
Jamala fuming right now reading this comment!
Border Control denied that the proof Alina Pash provides was authentic document. Alina Pash lied by providing that fake document to Suspilne https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/02/15/7324095/
The Ukraine Eurovision broadcasters seriously need to get their house in order. Firstly Maruv, who won in 2019 was asked to sign an impossible contract to perform at Eurovision, which was only produced after she won.. . The contract should have been in place BEFORE she even entered Vidbir. Now again, in 2022, something that should have been well and truly confirmed BEFORE Vidbir even started, has become an issue. Combined with the secretive judging results, Ukraine really knows how to stuff around thier artists.
BTW in 2019 none of the other contestants wanted to sign that fabricated contract either… Unfortunately, the samy story may repeat this time.
That would be great
Those demanding Ukraine to be banned from competition,
please have some compassion. This country is suffering enough with the potential war with the biggest country in the world.
That potential war is all made up by Western propaganda. It should have been obvious at this point.
OMG. AGAIN…
Update : they are authentic and she can go to eurovision
Source ?
Wow you’re really salty aren’t you.
They could be using a stamp in her passport/travel document as a proof of entry to Crimea through a land crossing, not a bus ticket as you suggested.
How do you know ??
Was the survey done ??
I hope it’s good for Alina…
this is so sad because ukraine would easily be one of the biggest eurovision power houses of the decade (just look at this selection lol) if they didnt keep screwing their artists up like this over and over and causing such a mess
Ukraine is apologizing deeply to the ESC fans for dealing with an existential crisis, civil war, horrific economy and invasion threats by one of the biggest armies in the world. All this instead of investing all of their energy on becoming an “ESC powerhouse”. Deepest apologies for those poor priorities.
Apology accepted.
Then why are Armenians civilized? What is your theory?
civilized people do not participate in the war against Kazakhstan protesters, do they?
Aww… civilized protesters that killed and beheaded policemen and burnt down buildings. How civilized of them!
In the meantime civilized Ukrainians have already killed 6 thousand people in Donbass and other civilized Ukrainians act like fascists towards their artists.
I’m mostly ignorant about the issue in Ukraine, but I think they should just scrap the “No Crimea visits” rule already.
First UA:PBC wanted Alina Pash to represent Ukraine at the contest, even rigging Vidbir in a lousy fashion for her to win. Now they want to take that away from her because of some nonsense.
It’s unfathomably sad to see Ukraine playing this dirty with their artists. I hope Ukraine takes part of the contest, but this is such an alienating sh*tshow. I mean, with how pretentious and obnoxious they’re being, they don’t need Russia to harm themselves xd
Dear ukrainians: STOP FIGHTING! You are in a very delicated international situation. The world’s eyes are into you and in this moment you must be united as much as possible.
Please, don’t fight! Alina, Kalush or Wellboy might be amazing ambassor of Ukraine and ukrainian culture for the world in Eurovision. Please, let’s enjoy and see how you are gonna reach the glory like last year.
Stay together, stay strong!
It’s incredible sad what Ukraine is doing to their own amazing artists. When your own country treats you this way, you don’t need enemies.
How can you say this? And the fact that 28 people agree with your post is a clear sign of how hollow you are. How can you not care if she did something that goes against Ukraine’s national dignity? If she did what that, her song is not only hypocritical but a mockery to her own country.
Are you really putting Eurovision in front of a country’s national dignity? Do Ukranians have to forget an invasion to their own territory to not affect Eurovision?
also i think the Ukrainian broadcatser makes it difficult for the artists, they have so much talent but they will hesitate to perform on such a messy TV show when they know they have to be investigated about how much they love their country or if they give up concerts in Russia… cmon Ukraine…. just let the artists do their job and let the best one win.
why do they think her documents were fake???
Nothing like this would have happened if the jury member had not tanked Kalusho.
Anyway, i think the Ukrainian broadcaster missed their chance to win in 2019 with MARUV but then again maybe it was a relief for them and good for the netherlands.
Why is this an issue now? Shouldn’t the Ukrainian broadcaster addressed who can and who can’t go to Eurovision before Vidbir? Also— didn’t she include Crimea in the map at the end? Isn’t she as pro-Ukraine as you can get?
They did – but apparently, there was an issue inside Alina’s team and the document which was provided as proof turned out to be fake. Since this document was requested by a team member, they are now waiting for the one requested by Alina herself.
Politics always mixed with music…. I don’t know Alina, but seeing her song, the story she gives off, so touching and poignant, her personal life, the story of her country and her ancestors, the tears she had, in my opinion, that would make no sense to make falsified documents! Or the appearance is deceiving but I don’t think that such a touching, professional and intelligent person like Alina can do something like that, it seems unreal to me! I really hope that by tomorrow or the end of the week (it mustn’t be too long otherwise the stress will be… Read more »
It’s kind of hilarious how the Ukrainian delegation always finds a way to shoot themselves on the foot. I just wholeheartedly feel terrible for all Ukrainian artists that would like to go to Eurovision but have to endure all of those endless mental gymnastics in their way, even when they have so much buzz from the fandom. At this point, the EBU should just sell their afilliation rights to an Ukrainian brodcaster that actually cares about their artists and puts them first.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, non-democratic countries need to be kicked out of EBU. It’s the only way to ensure that broadcasters are not serving as authoritarian government puppets carrying out their government’s political agenda through a music contest. I want to say, Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan goodbye.
Great suggestion but at the direction democracy is going all over Europe, Eurovision would be left with a just a few countries to compete year after year.
How Ukraine is authoritarian? I mean, my country is poor, corrupted and conservative, but it’s a poor, corrupted, conservative democracy.
What a freaking mess, jesus
Can Ukraine send a Dolly Style from Sweden? I guess they have never been in Crimea or Russia or even Ukraine … Then maybe Ukrainian TV will be sattisfied …
no, we have queue of own artists
Yes i see maybe the can colaborate with Maruv
that’s ridiculous. We already have enough Mello rejects lining up.
It was a joke OMG ..
I am Molly, I am Holly, I am Polly
H E L L O H I
Priviet more i guess haha
Hell oh I. xD
https://open.spotify.com/track/0sDlK1E6m2Qbi0Nn7n7SHL?si=C3HDSC9wQ-Wq3jIcZ1dm8g&context=spotify%3Aartist%3A0D00AEI0IWmoBtdIH75zXs
I still want to see them in eurovision. They are so funny and happy. Their music is so full of colours and life
Yess for Ukraine! 😀
Smells more like public shaming. Suspilne should have screened their contestants beforehand if they cared about this.
Suspilne is not a police + everybody try to hide own dirt
then they should not have rules about singing in Russia…
ok… just ban my Ukraine and be happy
lol they didn’t ban Azerbaijan when they clearly violated multiple EBU rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are at the edge of doing so
it was sarcasm
If Hungary, Turkey and Belarus has withdrawn, EBU needs to kick off Ukraine — this behaviour is childish. Why u staged National selection and picked artists when u could make an internal selection and avoid drama. I like Ukraine but i am tired … if there is a war maybe it’s better to not compete and making even more drama about it. It’s a difficult situation. When Armenia had a war they withdrawn too.
2 of those withdrawed out of themselves. 1 got suspended for song content which is something the EBU actually gets to say something about. A preselection has nothing to do with eurovision and stands totally loose from it. They can’t do anything just like how a school can’t repercuss you for not wearing your uniform out of school time.
Belarus got suspended from the EBU because of overall concerns about media freedom in the country. It went beyond just “song content” (it actually happened after their 2021 entry was refused). This was the full EBU statement following Belarus’ suspension: ““The EBU has been closely monitoring the suppression of media freedom in Belarus and have consistently called on BTRC, as a Member of the EBU, to uphold our core values of freedom of expression, independence and accountability. Since the disputed elections last summer, we have been campaigning for the protection of independent journalism and freedom of expression in the country.… Read more »
Well they should have picked internally artist or cared more about it – Its a mess or maybe a tactic to win again …. Its annoying and we do not need to have it. Sorry not sorry ….
I think EBU should ban Ukraine, like 10 years ban. That is the only way.
Not 10 years, but 3 years would be fine.
would better if they ban your country
Are you nuts, wishing a ban for my mother country for 10 years?! This is insane, it’s TOTALLY unfair to A BUNCH of artists there!!!
Ah sh**, here we go again.
Ukraine is slowly losing the credibility it had. Politics has no place in the Eurovision Song Contest. In any case, there is no voice from me, because they do drama unnecessarily and attract attention. And yes, I still argue that Jamala victory is also a political victory. She will never be accepted by me as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
this is madness. she clearly loves her country so much. it’s crazy they are doing this to her
Again a drama with Ukraine like every year. Politics never ends. They get boring more with it.
Why innocent people have to be guilty for consequences of bad Ukrainian politicians?
how did bad Ukrainian politicians influence this situation?
Meh putting this one on snooze… This internal drama is too tiring and but even fun, just give us the outcome
*not fun
What a sickeningly ignorant and dangerous comment.
Yep. The trolls have arrived. Pathetic.
Trolls are usually funny, so that’s a compliment for this nosy and obnoxious bootlicking sc*m
It’s so funny that people in here demand to ban Ukraine from the contest for this. This is their internal selection, every country picks the contestant in any way they want. The EBU doesn’t care when San Marino and Bulgaria pick American singers to represent them in the contest, so why should they care about the internal Ukrainian scandals? And as for the song itself, it’s not controversial in any way. If Israel can sing about the relations between Jews and Arabs in 2009, Albania can sing about how the immigrants should “return home” in 2019, then Ukraine can sing… Read more »
We are trying to enjoy our hobby like you say, but people like yourself are ruining it.
Why don’t YOU heed your own advice and care about your own problems, rather than coming in her calling people out who doesn’t have the same opinions as you? Live by your own advice, you’ll be much happier for it. 🙂
Your hobby is to have an opinion about a situation you know very little about? I’m surprised your name is Darren and not Karen.
I always liked the name Karen, I think it deserves better. But it’s insanely hilarious that that moron Whoopie Goldberg’s real name is actually Karen. Full circle. Well, Caryn. But it sounds the same. Almost full circle.
My hobby is Eurovision hence why this is a Eurovision fan site and not a political journal. Also, regarding this situation, I actually know a lot more about it than you as a matter of fact. Not that it’s any of your business but geopolitics pays me quite well. Your initial comment is the most Karen-esque out of the two of us. So I reiterate….follow your own advice. Stay healthy, stay fresh, enjoy life. Writing comments calling people out for having an opinion isn’t good for your health, despite the attention that you obviously crave by writing them. 🙂 Atleast… Read more »
Oh, a Karen declares to know something better than someone she doesn’t even know? How very shocking. Drink some cold water, you seem very stressed.
Calling me a Karen doesn’t mean anything only that your not really creative, guess the rhyming thing was just a once off eh? Shame.
Nah not stressed, not as stressed as you seemed to be with your dramatic first comment anyway. I’m in quite a good mood actually.
Hope you feel that way too soon though pet. x
I suspect you have some serious reading comprehension issues if you find my first comment “dramatic”. There is nothing dramatic in my comment. Or maybe you get so mad reading a different opinion than yours, that you experience it as dramatic.
Ah your still going. I’m tired now, go find someone else to play with now, your getting boring.
I bid you adieu x
Stay healthy, don’t try so hard, live a full and happy life
You came here attacking my entirely legit point of view just because I wrote that people here should stop passionately attacking Ukraine for their sh*t and invest that energy in dealing with their own sh*t. I now understand this was a very sore point for you and that’s why you are attacking me. I’m sorry that you don’t have the courage to deal with your sh*t in life, but it’s not my problem, it’s yours.
Yawwwn
Nobody us talking about the song itself, we’re talking about a delegation being political. Not about social issues.
Oh, why then Iceland was praised for being political? I didn’t see much complains about Hattari inviting the Israeli prime minister for a fight and using politics as part of their promotion. How was that different and why people were less mad about it?
*Hatari.
Again, it’s about the delegation being political, not Alina or her song. Leave the contestants alone.
And I don’t want Ukraine to be banned on ESC.
I think that the consensus is that the lyrics of this song are beautiful and powerful, which is why it’s even sadder that their own broadcaster would risk not receiving all that love from abroad by not sending it. I’d understand her being DQ if she had supported Russian government, or spoke in favor of occupation. I feel like enforcing this law with such big consequences is ultimately only making it difficult for Ukrainians, not the occupators. I am with Ukraine regarding them staying strong and defending their people, but I don’t feel like ordinary citizens going or not going… Read more »
Colin, you’ve probably heard enough from me on this, but it’s not about going to Crimea. That is allowed. It’s recognizing Russian authority over the region that is not allowed, and that is the part that endangers Ukrainian sovereignty. If their sovereignty is endangered, so is their ability to stay strong and defend their people.
Putin will never let go of Crimea again and a Ukrainian taking a flight is blameless.
I understand the country is in a major crisis, being near a war with Russia, which is obviously absolutely terrible. But a singer competing in the ESC has literally nothing to do with any of that. It seems like they are making an issue out of something that’s really not. At least from an outsider’s viewpoint.
I’m truly sorry if this comes off as insensitive. I am very open to being informed and learning why it’s viewed as a problem for Ukrainians.
And… it’s politics again ><‘
This is so sad. I am so sorry for ordinary Ukrainians. So sorry for Alina and other artists. Sorry for people who have relatives in Russia or Crimea. I just hope her documents are OK. Poor girl will have a sleepless night.
i dont feel sorry for them, they should have tried to prevent that this doesnt happen again instead of manipulating the results last minute. I wonder if anyone can explain why this year they havent announced the number of televotes as they did the previous years.
Coincidence right 😉
everything was announced live on the show
This is riduculous! Who cares about stuff like that?!
Just let her go to Eurovision please…..
Update :she will
FOR all Europeans (except moscow trolls): visiting Crimea is legal only from the territory controlled by Ukraine.
She visited Crimea by flight from moscow, its illegal for every human on the Earth.
She recognized that she visited Crimea through moscow.
Now she tries to prove that she misspoken when said that she visited Crimea through flight from moscow..
dont you feel miserable trying to describe this nonsense?
Kremlin trolls are here
It seems like they are in Suspilne.
yeah they spend the nights watching national finals lol you are not very smart arent you
Wut?!?!
They should withdraw. This is too much.
If Belarus can be banned, so can Ukraine as well. This is just too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if they again withdraw.
Why should they be banned? They haven’t done anything that’s against the ESC rules. This issue is solely within their own country.
EBU cannot ban a country for internal issues, don’t be delusional. Belarus was banned for breaking the rules they agreed with when joining the EBU.
That’s why people in Donbass are afraid to rejoin Ukraine. It is scary.
Pfff…idiots – “information received from citizens” aka people that disagree with that choice? Here we go again.
Belarus: Does something political.
EBU: I’m about to end your entire carrier!
Ukraine does something political in spam of 5 years.
EBU: Y’all hear something?
Remember EBU making Armenia change it’s song’s title in 2015?
That was a suggestion from the EBU, not a demand.
Let the EBU kindly suggest its members not to overtake police functions.
The same goes for Azerbaijan. They broke every rule in the book in ESC and JESC and EBU has done nothing. Everyone who thinks EBU is “apolitical” organization, you’re delusional.
I’m still pissed the EBU didn’t seem to care about the Azeri commentators talking over Malena’s performance at JESC. They said they were just going to talk with the broadcaster, and that was it. No punishment or anything even though it was against the (J)ESC rules
Are you surprised? EBU has been compromised by Azeri petro-dollars which is why the whole EBU is an “apolitical” organization BS no longer flies. They are as political as it gets.
They allow Azerbaijan and Armenia to put each other in last place every single year
And?
Remember when Albania sent a song about Albanian immigrants in 2019 and you all were fine with it? Remember? Wasn’t long ago
is the comments ask for a ban or something like that because of the song?
U crazy troll – go sleep and do not write these sh!s ….