Last week, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that no Russian act would take part at Eurovision in Turin this year. Now, the union has suspended representatives of its Russian members from serving on its governing bodies.

This follows on from the announcement by the EBU’s Russian members that they intend to leave the union. In a statement, the EBU reveals they have had verbal confirmation of this but still await formal confirmation of their plan to leave.

The EBU notes this suspension will remain in effect until further notice. Thus, it will possibly remain in place until the Russian broadcasters have officially left the union.

EBU suspends Russian representatives from governing bodies

You can read the EBU’s full statement below:

“The EBU Executive Board, in light of ongoing events in Ukraine, has decided to suspend representatives from its three Russian Members (RTR, Channel One and RDO) from serving in its governance groups, including the Executive Board and all Statutory Committees. This follows the decision taken last week to exclude Russia from the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.

“In taking this action, the Executive Board took note of the public statement issued by the three Member organizations on 26 February announcing their intention to withdraw from the EBU. A decision taken as a direct result of Russia’s exclusion from the Song Contest. The Members have verbally confirmed to us their intent to leave and we are awaiting their formal confirmation. 

“The suspension will remain in effect until further notice has been given by the Executive Board.”

Russian broadcasters depart from the EBU

The EBU’s latest announcement comes amidst the continuing events surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last Friday, the EBU announced that there would be no act representing Russia following boycot calls from several countries, including Finland and Estonia. The song contest’s organisers added that participation from the Eastern European country would bring Eurovision’s image “into dispute”. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought death, tragedy and turmoil to innocent people.

Russia’s broadcasters subsequently put forward a statement in state media saying they decided to end their membership with the EBU following the country’s disqualification at the contest. 

This means that the broadcasters can no longer take part in the Eurovision Song Contest and its related events, including the Junior contest, for which the country had already started its selection. Besides the song contests, the broadcaster will cease to have access to sports and live events through the EBU network.

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Noel
Noel
2 years ago

It is so very sad to think that when Jamla won the eurovision song contest in 2016 with 1944 talk about her own family and it is happening all over again in 2022 it is so very sad and heartbreaking

Danny McEvoy
Danny McEvoy
2 years ago

The only way that Russia will be back in the EBU is if somebody either bumps him off or he’s deposed and handed over to the Hague..if that happens they can get back to normal…the mad thing is if/when he takes control of Ukraine he’ll have 44 million pissed off Ukrainians that all want to kill him!!

Alvin
Alvin
2 years ago

The religious conservative people in Indonesia are very supportive of Putin (Russia) simply because they hate the West.

Not surprising…

Alvin
Alvin
2 years ago
Reply to  Alvin

If you went on to YouTube and type the keywords “Sejumlah Diplomat Walkout Saat Menlu Rusia Pidato di PBB”, you’ll see those Indonesians I’m talking about in the comment section.

Last edited 2 years ago by Alvin
2stressed2think
2stressed2think
2 years ago
Reply to  Alvin

Fellow Indonesian here. I really don’t want to get too political on the comment section of a fun and light-hearted website like wiwibloggs, but I feel like something must be said about this issue. Reading the comment sections of videos showing the staged UN walkout against Russia posted on Indonesian YouTube news channels does my head in. Seeing these so-called hardline Muslim Indonesians supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because the UN and the West have allegedly “ignored” Palestine makes me question our country’s priorities in world politics. I’m here to say that these ignorant people DO NOT represent Indonesia as… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by 2stressed2think
Jeep
Jeep
2 years ago

Little did we know at the time that Manizha and her Russian Women would be the last song by Russia in the contest, perhaps ever!

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeep

The funny thing that it was a song about being strong and bringing “the change”. Now when there is more reason than ever to at least try and bring that change, many Russians are busy with denial. Many of them think that the information from the war is exaggerated and fake. Those people are weak and dumb, a pathetic bunch really. Manizas song was more of a wishful thinking rather than representation of the actual Russian women/people.

ESC Stan
ESC Stan
2 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Ask Manizha that, pretty sure she knows what is going on and doesn’t like it.

JSU12
JSU12
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeep

Interesting thing to think about. Maybe a prelude to a female leader of Russia. But not that bitch that threatened Finland and Sweden with war.

Tobias Andersen
Tobias Andersen
2 years ago

I guess we have to get used to being neighbor to a new North Korea. Russia will be so isolated after this and Putin will close Russia more and more down to keep people from uprising.
It’s really sad what mad men can do. It’s one man’s skewed reality behind it all.

Noel
Noel
2 years ago

I totally agree with you it is so very sad

Pietro
Pietro
2 years ago

Idk why people say it’s all putin fault, I mean… putin is just a man, he doesn’t decide for the country all by himself, maybe we forget that russia has always acted this way, it always subdued its neighbors for its “safety”. Now these countries are allying with its enemy, Russia has failed to admit that it is no longer the continental power it wants to be.

Last edited 2 years ago by Pietro
Hada
Hada
2 years ago

Russia bombed Kyiv’s TV broadcasting tower, so yeah. These types of measures absolutely apply. If anything, this should be grounds to just kick them out.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Collateral damage to this bombing was the destruction of the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial.

ESC Stan
ESC Stan
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

Because of what Putin calls “denazification”… irony.

Ffgsg
Ffgsg
2 years ago
Reply to  ESC Stan

I mean yea
.if by denazificayion he means killing thousands of innocent people
(While it possible that very few of them can be nazis)
Then yes

And not gonna talk about him giving independence to Luhansk and Donetsk
Which are considered terrorists

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
2 years ago

I feel as if what’s happening is only encouraging Putin to do more. America is looking increasingly weak in all of this. This wouldn’t have happened three or four years ago.

JSU12
JSU12
2 years ago

The West, in total, looks weak. We are just saying, “Oh, you are going to invade and kill. Well, we won’t stop you, but we will speak highly of our morals and hit your wallet.” That does not prevent killing.

Ffgsg
Ffgsg
2 years ago
Reply to  JSU12

You understand that if the west helps Ukraine it’s very possible
To have a ww3?

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago

Yes, of course, Ukraine would be much safer under the watch of the man who was impeached for blackmailing President Zelenskiy.

Nils
Nils
2 years ago

Oh, it would have. Remember Trump threatened to leave the NATO, since he only ever cared about himself. But I’ll give you this: George W. Bush might have already pushed the button at this point.

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
2 years ago

The real question is can Russian artists apply to the selection processes of other countries? Can they band together can create a board of Russian artists like what is going on in the Olympics after the doping scandal? Or will all Russians continue to not be represented?

Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago

I’m sure Russians can compete if they have connections to other countries.

The Russian diaspora is huge, and they make up a minority in many European countries. 26% of Estonia is Russian and 25% of Latvia is Russian, so I’m sure we’ll have Russian representatives again in the future. Also, Russia as a country won’t be represented for a long time. It might be decades before the EBU accepts them again.

Cookie Nation
Cookie Nation
2 years ago
Reply to  Apollo

Well, I am sure Phillip Kirkorov will find a way to sneak in.

Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago
Reply to  Cookie Nation

That’s what I’m worried about! His only options are Moldova and Bulgaria, so I hope they both either blacklist or ban him like the Baltic states did.

Rich
Rich
2 years ago

This is what you’re concerned about? Really?

ESC Stan
ESC Stan
2 years ago

Of course they can and they’d be welcomed im sure. The world isn’t against Russia (its people) its against the crimes the government is committing. We’ve all seen russians speak out against this.

Catriona
Catriona
2 years ago
Reply to  ESC Stan

I don’t think you speak for the world on that one.

ESC Stan
ESC Stan
2 years ago
Reply to  Catriona

No I don’t. I speak from my perspective.

L’oiseau
L’oiseau
2 years ago

I think this is a very good question, so I don’t understand the downvoting… Anyway, I think Russian composers and producers making music for other countries should not be allowed in the contest. It’s not fair for them, but it is also not fair what is happening to the Ukrainian people. Having said that, of course nationals from other ESC countries of Russian origin should be allowed to participate. Not as Russians, but as other nationalities. Now downvote me as much as you want!

Hu Hu Hu hurricane
Hu Hu Hu hurricane
2 years ago

I feel bad for artists who are totally independent and can’t use some bank apps because of the ban. The poor people are not guilty, they didn’t choose to be born there.
“people getting fired, some can’t get job, some students get drop out of university just because they are russians. Russophobia is not the answer”
Svetlana Dmitrievna (a.k.a LANA)

Frysk
Frysk
2 years ago

I feel sorry for the Russian people but this is the way life goes. Only the Russian people can overthrow their government; (Unlike Putin who thinks he can overthrow a foreign government, which is actually war). So Russian people get active and do something, we are behind you!

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago

I think Putin himself announced it in 2014. A long time before that, even. If he didn’t want the place for himself, he wouldn’t have had a problem with them joining NATO.

ESCFanGA
ESCFanGA
2 years ago

Russia being expelled from Eurovision is the right decision given what is happening in Ukraine but nonetheless I do feel a bit sad that we’ll most likely never see Russia in the contest again as long as Putin is still in office.

aleksander eide
aleksander eide
2 years ago
Reply to  ESCFanGA

agree with the first part but not sad about not seeing russia as long as Putin is in office

JSU12
JSU12
2 years ago
Reply to  ESCFanGA

Just remember he is 70, so he will die eventually.

JSU12
JSU12
2 years ago
Reply to  JSU12

Oh, definately not enough. I am hoping for assassination, revolt, poisoning, or just sheer dumb luck that he gets hit by a bus or drops dead. I still think the world could send an elite team to kill him with no one knowing or saying anything.

Ffgsg
Ffgsg
2 years ago
Reply to  JSU12

Instead of killing him
The only way to get rid of him is a revolution
Cmon in Russia they can’t even protest without getting themselves killed