Prior to the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, the European Broadcasting Union decided to exclude Russia from the contest after Moscow launched its war in Ukraine.
“The decision,” the EBU said at the time, “reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s Contest would bring the competition into disrepute.”
Now OGAE Ukraine has called for Russia’s fan club to be banned from all activities associated with the broader network of OGAE (Organisation générale des amateurs de l’Eurovision) — the international fan network.
Their call comes days after OGAE International allowed OGAE Russia to submit a song to the OGAE Song Contest 2022. Their club chose Leonid Agutin and Vladimir Presnjakov with the song “DNK.”
In a strongly worded statement posted on their instagram, OGAE Ukraine said:
Eurofans from Russia who supported the war should leave OGAE!
OGAE Ukraine appeals to the international community of fans of the Eurovision Song Contest with a a request to remove OGAE Russia club from participating in OGAE International activities and events (including OGAE Song contest 2022) due to official support of their government actions published on the website escrus.org on 02.26.22
We consider the further participation of the OGAE Russia club in any activities of the Eurofan community as contrary to the principles of OGAE International and common sense.
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In a subsequent post, OGAE Ukraine pointed out that one of Russia’s artists for the OGAE Song Contest has performed in concerts that explicitly support the war against Ukraine.
Once again, we are pasting their comments and gallery below.
Dear friends, members of OGAE clubs, and fans of the Eurovision Song Contest from all over the world.
We would like to draw your attention to this screenshot. This is news published on the official website of the OGAE Russia club on February 26, 2022.
You should take a look at the last part of the message, where the Russian club expresses support for the actions of its country. I would like to note that this means NOT the support for broadcasters’ decisions, NOT the support for artists, but the support for the actions of their country specifically.
On the same page, confirming the very meaning of their message, there is a photo of a house from Kyiv, which was hit by a Russian missile.
In case you may have forgotten, their country’s only actions on February 26 were directed at killing and destruction. Their country continues to take these actions even now.
We have asked to remove OGAE Russia from participating in OGAE International activities because we do not see how it is possible to be in the same community with people who have officially expressed support for murder and terror.
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We would also like to point out at the submission of OGAE Russia itself. One of the participants, namely Vladimir Presniakov, participated in the concerts directly aimed at the support of Russian invasion in Ukraine and expressed his support towards the war and actions of Russian armed forces to invade Ukraine.
We can’t imagine how their applications can be even considered and evaluated in competitions, knowing their open support of the war as well as representative they picked for the contest.
They should do what FIDE, world chess organization, has done for Russian chess players. The play under the FIDE flag so the Russian Federation has no standing in world chess. They even banned a highly rated Russian grandmaster who vocally supported Putin and the war. But, no Russian chess player is banned from playing in official events unless they are proven war supporters.
I like your suggestion! Those Russians who condemn the war – including myself – have difficult time associating themselves with such states symbols like the Russian flag anyway, so performing / taking part at events under a neutral flag or name seems like an appropriate solution for the time being. I know that tennis players from Russia agreed to that, too.
How about we ban Russians citizens from absolutely everything (ever if they object the war)? It’ll be like treating Germans after WWI …but it ended up just fine for everyone, right?
Hi Russian troll! Hope you enjoy having your words fall on deaf ears because they don’t make any sense and you’re nuts!
The level of you treating me and my message speaks more about you.
Banning Russian citizens from everything – even those who are agains the war – will only further militarise the Russian society and turn it against the West. And the next country Russia could attack might be yours. Think about it.
And enjoy your 3 likes. I’m even going to add another one, so that you could feel better about yourself. 😉
The self-importance and condescension you treat me with say more about you. I’d rather be blunt and say it like it is than pretend I’m making a big point when I’m just spouting nonsense about WWI over what is fundamentally a thing about a goddamn fan-organized song contest.
Pls that was sarcasm, chill
Ok, enough is enough now! Ukraine has been bringing politics to Eurovision since 2004 (Jamala, Ruslana, Kalush, Maruv, Alina Pahs etc.) in un unprecedented level. I cannot tell you how much the image of Eurovision was tarnished this year after that obviously political victory of Ukraine. The only OGAE I want to see banned is Ukrainian one.
Hi Russian bot! Don’t know how you passed the captcha but take your hatred elsewhere
Hi downvoters! You’re wrong and I’m right. Slava Ukraini!
You can name yourself John, but we all know you are Putins puppet.
John go home you’re drunk.
I support OGAE Ukraine!
They are right, if that Russian club is having fun with the pain of Ukraine they are not welcome anymore.
They don’t support the invassion and Ukrainian OGAE Club is saying lies. Plus if OGAE International expell the Russian club in the middle of OGAE Secound Chance when they are competint, they will face legal challanges as its a unfair political desition who wasn’t taken on time.
Prove it. Show me a statement where OGAE Russia condemns the attack. Do it.
OGAE Russia can’t issue a testament condening the war of their goverment in Ukraine, and if thet does, their members can face arrest up to 5 years or the ESC group will be qualifed as ”Foregin Agent” by new Russian laws. Their only chance is that their president and some of their members flee from Russia and do such condenations in the ”Democratic Exile”.
Either be free out of Russia or a slave to Putin in Russia. I hear ya, but I’m not gonna believe they don’t support the invasion until I hear it from them. Sorry. Guilty until proven innocent. And until they definitively make it clear, they don’t deserve to be in OGAE.
Then you must not accuse them for supporting the war without the real facts from their president or their members in their social media.
If Russia OGAE supports invasion, then absolutely it needs to get banned as soon as possible. Theres no question about it. Supporters of children getting murdered have no place in Eurovision community.
They don’t support the invassion.
Seems like a reasonable thing to ban them, just surprising it hasn’t already been done
OGAE International can’t ban them right now, considering that are in Middle of Secound Chance contest, if they bans the Russian club due the war in Ukraine, the Russian club can challange them legally as they don’t support the war and its unfair political desition.
Challenge them legally? For what? Lol. There is no law guaranteeing anyone a membership in OGAE. Don’t be silly.
But also its not correct having invited them to took part in the OGAE’s song competitions and let them selecting their entry and having send their votes to OGAE International, and worse accusing them for having suport the war without have real facts of their social media of their staff & members who prove it. OGAE Ukraine also failed in ask OGAE International in late February, March or in June to exclude them from the Network.
If they support the invasion, ban them.
Russia and Belarus should ONLY return to Eurovision when the dictatorship is toppled and the Russian people can freely express their opinions, which will likely never happen within the next few decades.
No they didn’t actually, but i agree that they will be allowed to return to ESC only when both countries (as well Turkey and Hungary) became Western-oriented and fully democratized and they can make a longer peace with their neibourds and return all their sized lands too.
OGAE Russia wrote on their website that they fully support Putin and the invasion.
Russians that don’t support the invasion can join OGAE Rest Of The World.
No its not true Ukrainian missinterpreted the sentence, they only want said their Apolitical and Neutral opinion when Russian channels Withdraw from EBU back in March, but in opinion of Europe, Nobody can’t be neutral in this war, even when is isn’t our war…
You’re gonna try and sue a fan contest? Are you nuts? Do you realize how insane that sounds?
Its agisnt their OGAE International rules and Russian club didn’t break any rule or their singers.
You’re a looney.
And you a Troll.
Also Russians won’t will join on OGAE Rest Of The World. Their president told this to me.
I actually didn’t think Russia were still in OGAE? Like are any of the other ESC alumni still in OGAE?
But yeah ban them like I don’t see a reason why Russia would need to be in OGAE..
andorra, hungary, luzembourg, slovakia, turkey are still in OGAE
Nice
I know this is unrelated but we got 9 countries that have not confirmed their ESC 2023 participation yet.
-Armenia
-Azerbaijan
-Bulgaria
-Croatia
-Czech Republic
-Ireland
-Moldova
-North Macedonia
-Slovenia
I’m genuinely shocked Romania & Montenegro confirmed TBH.
Bulgaria will not participate…This is just my feeling.
I share your feeling honestly.
I hope I’m wrong because they have so many good artists. 🙂
Bulgaria can barely afford the contest. I want Bulgaria in the contest but I don’t want any country to drain themselves of resources ya know?
They need somebody to pay for it, which makes me afraid Bulgaria is how Philipp Kirkorov will be back. Maybe with Poli Genova singing.
Doubt Bulgaria would want Kirkorov.
Hopefully not. He was born in Bulgaria, and went to this year’s final in Torino with Poli… so not a good sign.
Oh no no no no no! NO! Please no!
Is it true? Why would EBU allow him being there anyway?
The main problem is the CEO of BNT…not the money.
Gotcha.
Croatian broadcaster HRT renewed their contract with The Crystal Hall in Opatija to be the hosts of Dora until 2025, so I hope that means that we are in.
Yeah I saw that. I hope Croatia aren’t planning on leaving or anything.
I have a feeling that Ireland might withdraw, poor results and lack of interest in the last years. It’d be such a shame, though :/
I’m pretty nervous for Ireland also. I really hope they keep trying.
Ireland confirmed : )
Russia needs to be banned from EVERYTHING.
We should ban Israel, USA and UK too due their Warlords too!
If you wanna ban every country with a horrid government you’re probably gonna have to ban half the countries in the contest.
Then the Eurovision Song Contest must be renamed as fully politically Western correct song contest than Eurovision, as only countries with US or European oriented valoues can take part in it only.
ESC is about Europe and it’s neighbors coming together to celebrate music despite how awful many of the governments and general issues are in the continent are. Russia was banned because putting a country in the contest that has or is currently invading another country (especially another ESC country) makes no sense. I find it funny how you talked about wanting to get rid of several countries but have yet to mention Azerbaijan who is the only current ESC country to be under a dictatorship. You’d actually have basis on an argument of banning Azerbaijan because not only are they… Read more »
The Armenia-Azerbaijan situation is a whole lot more complex to be honest, the fighting happened in internationally recognised Azeri territory and there was plenty of aggressions on both sides (Armenia literally bombed Ganja, Azerbaijans second city)
Russia on the other side launched a totally unprovoked invasion and annexation of regions of Ukraine in 2014 and was let get away with it then… thankfully the world has payed attention when they turned back for more.
The rest of the World which are no allies from USA or Europe we don’t care in General on this Russia-Ukraine war, specially when USA, UK and France invaded others countries ilegally without respect the UN letter like Iraq in 2003, Panama in 1989, Libya in 2011, Vietnam and others countries during more than 70 years with much impunity and they havent apologize over their war crimes or jailed their leaders who provoked it and they focussed only in themselfs. I thing that UN Veto Segurity counsil should be abolish and all countries should be subcrist on International Justice Court… Read more »
Karabagh War was started by Azerbaijan with a Turkish support and while you are right, Armenians did bomb Ganja, Azeris bombed every major town within Karagabh including the capital Stepanakert.
Because like Ukraine war, Azerbaijan have every right to recover their lands which are internationally recognized. If the Armenians in Karakakh don’t want live under Azerbaijani order, they can return to Armenia or flee to Russia which is main Armenia’s segurity guarantor.
How’s the weather in St. Petersburg?
Probably every country participating would be banned. Almost all of them have had horrible governments. Just look at Italy where the favourite to win election is a fascist..
. Sabi doesn’t seem to be able to comprehend that.
Its totally fake that OGAE Russia supports the war, i spoke with their president Anton Samsonov. Even they where allowed to took part at OGAE Secound Chance 2022 back in June and the group already casted their votes! Also their entrant at OGAE Secound Chance 2022, Vladimir Presnyakov (ex-Son in Law of Alla Pugacheva – ESC Russia 1997) is not supporting the war, and even back in May, he had a verbal fight with Kremilin propagandist Margarita Simonyan when she cuestioned why Alla Pugacheva leave Russia with her housband, and childreen to Israel insertead suporting their country. Also the OGAE… Read more »
Of course we should ban them. Even if they never supported P*t*n’s actions .
Go kween Ukraine! Blue heart emoji, yellow heart emoji
i was going to say let us not, but then i read the article and if the russian ogays indeed publicly supported the invasion, then they should indeed get the boot. why would a eurovision fan club make such statements to begin with?
The EBU are spineless. They needed all of the Nordics, Baltics, Netherlands and Ukraine to tell them to ban Russia as if it wasn’t an obvious thing to do.
This is an obvious decision also.
But the desition will be taken after the upcoming OGAE Song competion 2022 held by OGAE Australia, because will be totally unfair that OGAE Russia will be excluded, just because OGAE Ukraine realize that they will be competing and they didn’t protest it in June to be excluded from OGAE International.
I am just curious how can you be a fan of an event that unites millions, something that was created to foster peace in the first place, and support a war that kills innocent civilians? I would love to hear how OGAE russia members justify this. Seriously.
They are silent, and if they speak out against the war, they could face arrest in Putin Russia, thats is the problem!
Eurovision and OGAE must band political . From 2005 especially from 2016 Ukraine involves that so many times in ESC and also in their national final . Two winner don t go to ESC because that. Why EBU allow this so many years before war. We saw their national final in 2005,2010, 2011, 2019,2022
The ebu has no control over national finals
You still don’t really know how to write a sentence, just lists and judgement calls.
I mean, they’re probably brainwashed fools with little grip of reality, but yeah… out.
Ok but like… isn’t OGAE like super irrelevant?
Regardless, they just want push their agenda under the name of injustice
Not to their members, which is only who it is for.
“MuSIC UnItEs Us”, “CeLeBrAtE DiVeRsItY” and many cringeworthy slogans were said by hypocrites in this fandom.
I though Eurovision was non-political, but those Ukrainian patriots need to be seen as valid all the time.
They need to re-direct this energy in something more productive; for example helping their people.
OGAE Russia openly supported Russia invading Ukraine. They’re a Eurovision fanclub, they weren’t forced to do that, they did that because they *wanted* to. Removing Russia is not a political situation; the Russian club is what’s bringing geopolitics into this.
@Riley It’s fake, the Club never suported the war! i know them for many years , their president and their members too!
Russia cannot be allowed to participate in Eurovision-related activities when Russian Eurofans continue to parrot propaganda and support the genocidal war! Slava Ukraini!
Heroiam Slava!
¿How Turkey, Armenia and UK still allowed to competing in Eurovision related competitions vwhen they still occuping lands ilegally, invading neibourds countries and making wars in Europe and Arround the World? their clubs should be removed from OGAE by this santion logics too.
I find it funny how you haven’t mentioned Azerbaijan in any of your comments.
(Cuz they’re allies, see?)
(Even though I’m pretty sure Azerbaijan signed the statement for Ukraine too iirc)
Do you have nothing else to do besides spreading propaganda?
And it is odd that you call Armenia an occupier but give no mention to Azerbaijan.
Those lands that Armenia occupy military are legally part of Azerbaijan and recognized legally at International level as much Ukraine wants Crimea, Kherson, Donesk and Lugask back to their control.
Karabagh in no shape or form is similar to the Ukranian towns you mentioned. It is also internationally disputed hence the OCSE Minsk Group involvement. Karabagh is much much like Kosovo. It was handed to Azerbaijan by Stalin (a brutal dictator) despite the territory being part of historic Armenia with a 95% Armenian population. But nice try!
^But then in those grounds Russia can claim Crimea efectivally because like Karabakh case was ilegally transfered withing USSR by Soviet dictador Nikita Krushunev to ”comemorate” the aniversaty of ” fake union” of 300 years of Russia with Ukraine and only Russia agreeged to ceded to Ukraine in 1994 at Budapest Memoradum in exchange of the lots of Nukes wepons that Ukraine had during USSR time which now Russia is using to treating them and Western World if they stand strong aginst their regime. Plus when Azerbaijan was created in 1920, Stalin decided give Karabakh and Najiveran to Azerbaijan without… Read more »
Stop, you’re digging yourself deeper, just admit you’re wrong and apologize already. It’s getting embarrassing. I don’t get how you don’t feel any guilt about dismissing Ukrainians so idly. My brain just can’t wrap itself around it. It’s cruel, plain and simple. Sorry.
I don’t regret anything that i’m saying because all its on our history books and on Internet. You seems ignore the historical facts because your toxic pro-Western mind don’t let you think well.
I’m in an OGAE club and I very much agree that OGAE Russia needs the boot.
I’m also OGAE ROW member and i find just unfair that OGAE Russia is excluded at last minute in middle a competition when should had done early before.
I don’t know how you can be in a club with Ukrainian members who’ve told everyone about the horrors of war and feel sorry even for a second for the Russian club. I’m glad they’re being taken out like this. Teach ‘em a lesson.
OGAE Russia wasnt errased them yet from OGAE until OGAE International told it. Ukrainians must learn a lesson too that they can’t dictate their democratic rules.