Earlier this week OGAE Ukraine called on OGAE International to kick the Russian fan club out of its events, including the ongoing OGAE Song Contest. But the answer from the Organisation générale des amateurs de l’Eurovision was a no. In response to that response, the Ukrainian club has now pulled its entry from the contest and expressed its disappointment with the decision. You can read their complete statement below.
OGAE Ukraine withdraws from OGAE Song Contest
“OGAE Ukraine is disappointed by the decision of OGAE International not to reject the submission of OGAE Russia and to continue cooperation with the organization that officially supported the criminal actions of the terrorist state on the territory of Ukraine‼️”
“Our club withdraws its submission for OGAE SONG CONTEST 2022. We make this decision due to unacceptability of Ukrainian artists to be involved in the same project alongside russian artists that support Russian state military, who have committed numerous crimes against humanity on Ukrainian land. The inability of OGAE Ukraine to participate has both legal and moral reasons and applies to all OGAE International projects in which the OGAE Russia club participates.”
“We are deeply saddened by the decision of the clubs that supported the continuation of OGAE Russia’s participation in the activities of the international society of Eurovision Song Contest fans, as well as with the fact that the main idea of this event — to prevent war on the European continent — was distorted.”
“We sincerely hope that in the future the correct conclusions will be made, Eurovision fans will remember what the real evil is and how to prevent it from spreading, and our club will return to participate in activities of the community acting on the principles of humanism, human rights and respect for the musical diversity of people who do not tolerate aggressive and genocidal wars.”
View this post on Instagram
I think Ukraina should take a break frim ESC, till the war is over.
Good.
I’m with Ukraine from Armenia. Russia used Azerbaijan to do the same thing to Armenians. So, all my simpathy goes to Ukraine. We should do more to stop the war. Russia needs to understand that war is not a solution to issues.
Isn’t Armenia a Russian puppet ?
No. Russia is doing the same to Armenia by using Azerbaijan. Watch UN Security Council meeting from 15 September and you will see. Don’t let propaganda take over your mind. Russia is now threatening Armenia with its own invasion.
It’s Azerbaijan which is both Russia and Turkey’s puppet. Even just by watching voting you would have easily understood it.
Dear editors, Sabi and Ern are obviously Russian trolls. By writing down so much disinformation and “factual” historical disinformation it is clear that they belong to the troll army located in the Russian Ministry of Disinformation in St. Petersburg.
No, i’m not trolling, you are the actual source of Desinformation of ignorance, as you haven investigued well the facts on social network or even Russian news.
I knew it! The fact that that you have react within 10 minutes of my posting only confirms that you are checking up on this channel more than the average music fan does. You just fell into my trap. And I DO verify facts by reading Russian newspapers in automatic translation. The Russian population is being zombified by their media and trolls like you who supply and deliver those falsehoods on a daily basis. Find some humanity, leave the Ministry of Disinformation and get a decent job, Sabi. One day this all will be over and then the ordinary Russians… Read more »
o.O LOL, are you in drugs?
OGAE NAZI supporting a war… What a shame!
All this news about Ukranian singers and groups acting on behalf of Eurovision with everything going on cheapens the real fight going on so much in the public eye. You wanted public support you got it and still getting it but after a while deal with the real things this is such a silly little claim that will not have any real implications. What would be the achievement if this fan group got kicked out? And please stop saying if it is not governmental then they are still Russian and support government. No there are a lot of Russian people… Read more »
Good Riddance
Ukraine wants more pity, looks like. Step away, y’all won’t be missed, anyway.
Let music be music, no need to ban anyone.
OGAE Russia supports invading countries and raping and murdering people. And is therefore no longer an acceptable member. Would the OGAE have accepted OGAE Nazi Germany if it had existed in 1939-1945? Apparently! Civilised countries need to do the same as Ukraine: leave a club that is obviously supporting war crimes.
OGAE Russia don’t support their goverment actions, but their president and their members can’t express their true feelings because they can go to jail in Russia up for 5 years.
That I sadly understand. But can’t they, perhaps, stay quiet then? Say nothing? If so, I wouldn’t be jumping to conclusions. But their statement, whether voluntarily said or not, does formally express the support for the government.
No, being a Apolitical dosent mean politically they support their goverment war actions, just they wanted say that they wanted say their opinion in a Neutral point of veiw.
Not speaking out against war crimes and pretending that nothing happens makes the ordinary Russian guilty of those war crimes. Looking the other way while Ukraine is being destroyed and tens of thousands of people are being murdered makes the ordinary Russian guilty of war crimes. Doing nothing while millions of Ukrainian people are chased from their homes and Ukrainian families are torn apart makes the average Russian guilty of war crimes. Just like the Nazi Germans in the last century, the average 21st century Russian will be confronted for generations to come with their choice to do nothing against… Read more »
But what happens if those brave OGAE Russia members decides to speak out about the war against that supposed to be their ”Slav Brother and neibourd” without facing arrest in Russia or police harrasament like many journalists there who critize the Russian army perfomance in a supossed ”3 days war”.. its easy to you to complain, but not easy (for now) to those Russian ESC fans who want protest their goverment criminal war but they can’t due segurity reazons, they aren’t like the Western people who could fight for their freedom to last. Also many in Western Europe didn’t stand… Read more »
The Russian population voted for Putin and cheered him when he bombed and destroyed Chechnya 20 years ago. The Russian population voted for Putin when he invaded Georgia and stole parts of their country in 2008. The Russian population voted for Putin after he stole Crimea in 2014. Ever since 2014 Putin and the Russian people have waged an illegal war in the Donbass. Donbass is Ukraine and Russia has terrorised Donbass for years to try and make it Russian. Since this year Russia has invaded Ukraine. The Russian people have cheered and supported Putin’s war ever since. Like the… Read more »
Russia will be never disconected from Civilized World even if Ukraine want it, if were the case also USA & UK should be disconected and hated in most part of the World because they launched brutal colonial wars and in some cases political wars in places like Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Panama, Vietnam, Korea, Somalia, etc.. over 70 years and yet they havent paid for their crimes and boombings, plus USA showed the example to Russia to abusse of their UN Segurity Veto Rights when they invaded Iraq ilegally in 2003 without a proper justification than find ”Chemical Weapons” that never… Read more »
With your reasoning ANY state can commit ANY crime “because the Roman Empire committed crimes”. It is true that hardly any country has a flawless history, but that does not give Russia the right to fight wars, commit awful crimes and occupy other nations’ territories . Your childish reasoning just allows the continuation of crimes against humanity, but we have to stop that train of thought. Russia does what it does out of pure frustration over the loss of the Empire it once had. But in the 21st century the civilised world no longer recolonises other countries. Suppose the UK… Read more »
It’s not my Childrish mind, its about facts! Also in order that this must be archive, USA & UK should stop pretending that they are the FBI of the World and stop intervine in every part of the World to protect their allies or political interest, motiving Russia to do the same, and they must join on International Court of Justice in order to their military and president leaders can face a Trial due their past War crimes which never has paid.Also the UN Segurity Counsil veto should be abolish in order to have a 2/3 mayority in order to… Read more »
You again confuse facts with your personal opinions. Of course you criticise the US and the UK for “policing the world”, because you have learned that mantra all your life. But it is in fact your beloved Russia who is precisely doing that: invading, killing and destroying Ukraine because Ukraine wants to be part of the West and Russia does not want that. Moreover, what you claim about continuous colonisation is nonsense. Also for financial reasons the regions you mentioned are happy to be part of their respective countries. And they can leave any time they want. Which is something… Read more »
They didn’t ‘vote’ for him. Putin’s elections are rigged! I have watched videos and reports with my own eyes that claim this. Those who question the President are immediately brainwashed and turned into torture masters themselves.
It is really sad to discuss an issue like this. I feel proud as a member of the OGAE and my heart aches for any russian or ukrainian fan who feels inconvenienced or aggravated by the war and all statements about it. This hobby has been my joy for a long time and I know a lot of people for both countries feel the same.
I’m not making excuses for Putin and the Russian government. However, Russia is not exactly the only country in the Eurovision family that has recently engaged in rather unacceptable behavior.
I won’t name names, but I think the EBU and the fans should be consistent in the way these countries are treated.
Name 1 country in the Eurovision family that has committed the number of crimes Russia has committed since the Russians started waging wars in Chechnya, Georgia, Ossetia, Abchazia, Syria, Crimea and now the entire territory of Ukraine. Just one. I dare you, you troll!
Ehh.. Germany?
Serbia?
Hahahaha …. not even close! The current German government is pacifist and has nothing to do with Hitler Germany. Serbia may have killed some ten thousand Muslims in the 90’s. But that’s nothing compared what Russia’s doing now.
Did you really compared Germany and Serbia???
Clown.
How about other OGAE clubs join the protest in solidarity with Ukraine, we need to grab the organisers’ attention for real.
esc 2023 host city when
Bravo OGAE. You are not like EBU.
Bruh
Come on, excluding Russian fanclub of the non political Eurovision would be an INcorrect decision. I understand officially both clubs have to make those kind of statements but we all know fans dont hate eachother. Lets move on
The Russian Fanclub has not only clearly stated that it supports Russian genocide in Ukraine, it has also selected an artist who appeared in concerts supporting the war.
Unless other OGAE fangroups follow suit and pressure the removal of Russia, what does this achieve? Their fan club is still there, and Ukraine’s now isn’t. Ukraine will be missed but unless action is taken by OGAE this has achieved nothing. What is wrong with the OGAE Russia fans who don’t support this war participating in OGAE Rest of the World?
It has now been said that voting will open on September 16 only, so to give other clubs the chance to withdraw. Nobody is asking Russia to withdraw, though, which is pretty disgusting.
Then why don’t ask Israel, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan OGAE groups to withdraw all together too? they also in a war against their neibours too and yet still toleared in Western Europe and OGAE in hypocrital way.
Shame on OGAE!
OGAE Russia, as an organization, stated their support for their government’s actions. Thus, they had to be removed. Specific members of OGAE Russia who disagree with their government should be able to participate in OGAE Rest of the World, but the organization that supports war isn’t in the spirit of ESC. OGAE Ukraine should be supported by OGAE and EBU.
+
Wrong, OGAE Russia don’t suppport the war and Ukrainians have no objective facts that the Russian members and leaders supports the war, so they are Drama queens!
Drama queens? Would like to live that war at your home?
You would be talking very differently if it would be your country and your people killed and raped.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani still kills each others people for many years, as well Turkish army occupying Northen Cyprus for many years and Israeli army boombing and killing Palestinian people every year and yet EBU havent expelled those war problematic countries, so why have to act in Ukraine and Russia too, plus Ukrainian OGAE members didn’t research well the facts of OGAE Russia members and leader to formally accuse them for ”Suporting war”, i did 😉
Good, now withdraw from the real thing as well
For how long will Ukraine be setting the conditions? War always needs two sides… I think we are becoming hostages of Ukrainian politics and I’m glad OGAE put an end to it…
Eurovision is all about music, stop bringing politics into it…
are you actually for real? Russia INVADED them – that’s russian politics that’s messing everything up!
Could not agree more.
An invasion only needs one fascist regime to start it. By claiming a war needs two sides, you are spreading Russian propaganda. You would be talking very differently if it would be your country and your people killed and raped.
“War always had two sides ….” Tell that to the six million Jews who were murdered!!! Moron.
There were actually several factors the lead to the break out of WW2. It wasn’t exclusively about Jews.
That’s not the point.
It wasn’t even about Jewish people at all, nobody cared about that at the time.
Well the answer from Ogae was a no? And simply that? It would be fair to get maybe the Ogae justification for that, to get their point of view it would help to understand because as it is I don’t understand the aim of this article.
Shame on all of us ! Ask your OGAE club to withdraw Russian Club, NOW ! Russians have to be ban till the end of the war. We are so cowards ! SHAME
Someone in the comments really said “I hope this doesn’t ruin the contest”. Because yeah, that’s totally the priority over Ukrainian suffering. Please seek help and go away
Well, I’m very disappointed in the whole eurofans community. It is a pity that a large number of people still do not realize what a sacrifice Ukraine makes for freedom and peace in Europe and what a threat russia and the tolerance of russians who support Putin pose in any space. It is difficult to imagine that in 1939-1945 Germans supporting Hitler were allowed to participate in the cultural life of Europe. Perhaps this is because Hitler attacked all of Europe, and Putin has not yet had time, because Ukraine is restraining him with the spilled blood of its people.… Read more »
Serbians killed people, still they take part in Eurovision and are not excluded anymore.
The UK and France did the same on a larger global scale. So, should they be excluded too?
Serbia didn t participate in Eurovision from 1993 to 2004. Bosnialks killed Serbs and Crosts in Bosnia and participate from 1993. Croats kill Serbs in Croatia, and also participate from 1993.
I mean, there was that pic on the internet of Konstrakta sitting on a chair with Z-shaped tables, yet no one turned an eyelid because she is ‘iconic’. Gotta love the fandom’s hypocrisy
They use those tables every year. Also, he put a cup of a red liquid on it so maybe there was some messaging there.
Serbia was excluded from international competitions for several years. Get your facts straight.
With Monenegro too up 1996 and to ESC until 2004.
OGAE Russia openly supported the war, I’m honestly surprised OGAE International didn’t suspend or ban them just because of that. I’d support more clubs pulling out of the contest in solidarity
OGAE Russia don’t support the war, if were the case, they could have expelled imediatally!
Sabi have you seen what they posted? It’s definitely a support of the war!
Yes but they want be an apolitical group, if they spoke against war, the organization can face up 5 years jailed in Russia!
If they want to be apolitical, why have they chosen an artist who appeared in pro-war concerts? Why have they released a statement, which says they support the government’s actions? And if dissent is not possible, too bad. Nobody would have wanted Nazi Germany in an event like this. It is time people realized what’s going on here FFS.
^ Remember that they cannot make any statement condemning the war, if they do the group could be at risk of being persecuted and imprisoned as has happened with many Russian journalists condemning the war. The only option they have to do so is that both their president and the members of OGAE Russia must flee from their country into exile and make such statements. It is also false that Vladimir Presyankov (the ex-son-in-law of Alla Pugachevea – Russia 1997) and Russian entrant at OGAE Song Contest 2022 is supporting the war, in May he had a verbal fight with… Read more »
If OGAE Russia trully supports P*tin’s crimes, they should be expelled immediately.
However, a contest without Russia AND Ukraine would be refreshing. They keep ruining my favourite contest and I cannot forgive them.
How dare Ukraine inconvenience you with “ruining” your favorite contest, while their cities are burning and children are dying.
Ukraine does bring politics to the forefront ALOT even before the invasion. Jamala, Maruv, Alina Pash? They have been over the top with the politics stuff for years now.
Invasion has started in 2014
Jamala, Maruv and Alina pash all happened AFTER the invasion in 2014, the war has been going on long time!
We have problems with their national final in 2005,2010 also because politicks.
Allot?
so a contest is more important than stopping Ukrainian kids dying? congrats, you’ve just exposed yourself
I really hope this doesn’t affect the actual contest in any way. It shouldn’t cus this is just OGAE, but I still worry.
To clarify what this comment meant:
I hope OGAE being stupid doesn’t make Ukraine feel they’re aren’t fully backed by ESC & the ESC fandom.
I think some people read this comment as me thinking the contest being affected is more important than Ukraine’s suffrage. I don’t think that.
Sorry, unrelated again but I wanted to repost this:
We got 8 countries that have not confirmed their ESC 2023 participation yet:
-Armenia
-Azerbaijan
-Bulgaria
-Croatia
-Czech Republic
-Moldova
-North Macedonia
-Slovenia
Slovenia, Croatia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are in + Moldova too … i think also Bulgaria but i am not sure about N Macedonia and Czech Rep
Eurovision , not europolitic , not ukrainevision
so ukrainians suffering isn’t a good enough reason. seek help
Shame on OGAE International. The pro war views of OGAE Russia are well known.
Even the EBU for all its faults and flaws saw reason when it was pointed out to them.
Please wiwi as much as you need content to fill your blog, no more promotion of this OGAE contest.
Russia must be banned from everything!
Fully agree.
asking them to withdraw is one thing. but, asking them to dissolve and be removed from OGAE is another. a better idea could have been in the form of “suspension”. the club is still there (unless they themselves decide to go), they are just not allowed to take part for an undetermined number of years (or, in other words, “until further notice”). we don’t know how long this will last, but we also should not lose our hope that this will end in one way or another, some day in the future.
You realize OGAE Russia publicly supports war and destruction of Ukraine, no amount of time will make it ok as long those same people are in it
You should be saddened by the fatalities happening daily, not by a fandom contest that means nothing. Seriously.
Both things are possible, one is not exclusive from the other
You left out the part about OGAE Russia supporting the “special military operation”
Then ban these people