Eurovision Lost Russia and Its Reputation
Eurovision organizers were unable to follow their own rules. That's how the letter from the EBU was commented in Kremlin yesterday. In this letter the organizers stated that Russia will not participate in the event this year. Julia Samoylova, who is banned from entering Ukraine by the Ukrainian government will represent Russia on Eurovision in 2018. This will happen regardless of where the event will be held and which channel will be transmitting it. Andrey Grigoryev is reporting about how the Eurovision will change now.
The equal rights approach, which is the basis of such competitions, is ruined. Basically, upon the request of one participant, Ukraine, another participant, Russia, is suspended from the Eurovision. This is the first time such a thing happened in 6 decades of this competition. The EBU management couldn't insist on following their own rules and regulations for this contest. This opens a Pandora's box, because what's allowed for one country, a member of the EBU, is logically allowed for others as well. The motives are strictly political.
The Russian singer Julia Samoylova, a finalist of "Factor A" on the Russia One channel, was banned from entry to Ukraine. It was done only after it was clear that Samoylova would represent Russia in the competition. Before that, there were no issues between Ukraine and the singer. Until the last moment, I hoped this wouldn't happen. I'm trying not to get upset over this, I'm still working, writing songs and performing. At first, the event's organizers were outraged and they even considered moving Eurovision from Kiev to Berlin, but eventually they just stuck with Ukraine. We strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities' decision to impose a travel ban on Julia Samoylova as we believe it thoroughly undermines the integrity and non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest and its mission to bring all nations together in friendly competition.
However, preparations continue apace for the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city Kiev. Holding the event in Kiev raises many questions. At the last Eurovision, the Ukrainian singer Jamala chose a controversial song about the exile of the Crimean Tatars during WWII, even though any political content is prohibited under the competition guidelines. She only won after the experts' decision, even though the audience voted for the Russian singer Sergey Lazarev.
The Eurovision Song Contest stopped being musical, it became a political charade. Everything that happens there is a closed-door deal. The level of Eurovision is dropping consistently. From a truly musical contest, when ABBA and Celine Dion were winners, it became a propaganda tool. Take, for example, the victory of the bearded woman Conchita Wurst in 2014. It was a symbol of European tolerance and a stage for dirty political games. It's a cynical and inhumane attitude towards the performer, the country, and the competition itself. First of all, it's Eurovision's loss. Loss of reputation, since the competition was supposed to be non-political.
Now it only pushes the countries further apart. And a financial loss, since Russia refused to transmit the competition it's not a part of. As I imagine, the audience for the Eurovision Song Contest will be thrown back to the level of the 60-70's. And that's a very significant loss. I don't know how it will affect the cost of advertising, but I think it will even in the countries that will host the contest. Every participating country pays the sponsor, EBU, an annual fee. It's not a small amount. But now Russia may refuse to pay due to its suspension. They can demand Ukraine to cover all costs, since they're to blame for the inconvenience.
