Russia: Polina Gagarina sang at Putin’s fiesta!

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In addition to the letter “Z” and a banner with slogans in favor of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Polina Gagarina, took part in the pro-war fiesta organized by Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.

Just behind the point where Vl. Putin at Moscow’s Luzinski Stadium for Crimea, there were two banners reading “ZA ROSSIA” and “ZA MIR WITHOUT NATIONALISM” in Russian, while on the giant screens it read “SVOIH NE BROSAEM”, “KOSB” and “ZA ПРЕЗИДЕНТА”.

The “Z” is the symbol of the Russians for the invasion of Ukraine. It is written on the tanks, armor and all motor vehicles used by the Russians in the invasion operations in Ukraine. However, the letter “Z” does not exist in the Cyrillic alphabet! The rest, that is, “ZA ROSSIA” translates (ZA) “Russia”, while “ZA MIR WITHOUT NAZISM” translates (ZA) “world without Nazism”. Essentially, the second is the main argument of Putin and the Russians for the invasion of the territory of Ukraine – the de-Nazification of the country.

Of course, the participation of Polina Gagarina in this fiesta of the Russian president caused a negative impression. Despite the fact that the Russian singer won second place at Eurovision 2015 with a song that praises peace and the solidarity of peoples, her subsequent behavior proves that she was not at all influenced by the message of her song.

You can see the appearance of Polina Gagarina in the concert, at 08.50:

We remind you that due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EBU decided to exclude Russia from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. In response, Russia announced its withdrawal from the EBU.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments of our favorite competition!

EBU: Russia’s representatives suspended from the European Broadcasting Union!

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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has decided to suspend the three main Russian members that were until yesterday members of the union. Three days ago the Russian stations had unofficially announced, as it seems, their membership of the Broadcasting Union.

EBU’s statement on Russian members:

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.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news!
Source: EBU

Russia: Announces its withdrawal from the EBU!

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All Russian state media that were members of the EBU (VGTRK, Channel One and Radiodom Ostankino) announced their withdrawal from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in response to Russia’s removal from Eurovision 2022.

The announcement of the Russian broadcasters states:

Broadcasters see Russia’s withdrawal from the competition as an “inappropriate political sacrifice” in a music forum that has always emphasized its non-political status.
Russia’s ouster is the latest, but it is far from the first of such Eurovision-related decisions. So in 2016 Ukraine won with the song “1944”, which is an open political manifesto. At the same time, a few years later, the organizers of the competition excluded Belarus, saying that their song had political messages.
These are just two examples of the many, where the organizers of the competition approached the interpretation of the term “politics” “biased and selective”. According to the All-Russian State Television and Radio Company, the EBU is fulfilling the will of the European Union, although half of the members of the European Broadcasting Union are television channels and radio stations from outside the EU.

In our previous article, we told you that Russia’s reaction to the EBU’s decision to expel the country from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest was expected. The reaction came a while ago and is the most intense that could happen.

Russia: Slavia Simonova would represent the country at Eurovision 2022!

It remains to be seen whether Russia’s withdrawal will be permanent or only this year. Of course, the above development means that Russia will not be present at Junior Eurovision 2021 in Armenia either.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: RIA

Russia: Slavia Simonova would represent the country at Eurovision 2022!

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Now we can reveal it, after yesterday’s interview of Artur Gasparyan a well-known journalist in Russia, that 18-year-old Slavia Simonova would represent the country at Eurovision 2022!

As early as February 13, we had informed you with our Tweet that Russia this year would probably be represented by an artist who was not among the artists who had been heard in the previous period.

Russia 1 was chosen by 18-year-old Slavia Simonova, the winner of a talent show on the channel, a singer mainly of jazz music and with a vision problem.

Dream Team was opposed to this choice, which as it is known proposed Klava Koka, but also another male artist that unfortunately we can not reveal. The decision for Slavia Simonova was made several days before the Russian invasion and the reason for the delay in its announcement was that until the end there were negotiations with the Dream Team in order for Russia 1 to work with them this year as well. However, the fact that the Dream Team considered that the selection of Slavia would not bring the desired result, insisting until the end on its other two proposals, led the team to the decision not to cooperate with Russia this year.

It is worth noting that the song with which Yaroslava Simonova would represent Russia at Eurovision 2022, was her own composition and was ready. In fact, very soon we would have had the official announcements.

We remind you that Russia will not participate in Eurovision 2022 after a relevant decision of the EBU, due to the invasion of Ukraine. We are now waiting with interest for Russia’s reaction to this decision.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

EBU bans Russia from Eurovision 2022!

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Officialy today EBU has decided to exclude Russia from Eurovision 2022 in Turin.

After the latest news been spread all over Europe and the world, among with the intention of many countries to withdraw from the contest, EBU has changed their initial desicion and announced that Russia is not able to compete in this year’s Eurovision.

The statement that has been published by the official page of Eurovision Song Contest and shared also in their social media reported:

“The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that no Russian act will participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest’s governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.

The Reference Group recommendation was also supported by the EBU’s Television Committee.

The decision 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.

Before making this decision the EBU took time to consult widely among its membership.

The EBU is an apolitical member organization of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service.

We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage.”

You can find the statement in the official page of Eurovision Song Contest.

Stay tuned in EurovisionFun for all the latest news!

 

Finland: Broadcaster Yle states they won’t participate if EBU allows Russia’s participation in Turin!

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The developments regarding Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 and the rest of the countries’ reactions are truly rapid. Following the statements of the public broadcasters of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, the broadcaster of Finland (Yle) also asks the EBU not to allow the participation of Russia, while going one step further, stating that in case Russia’s participation is eventually allowed, then they are not going to send their own representative to Turin!

Russia’s attack on Ukraine runs counter to all the values ​​represented by Yle and other European broadcasters. Yle has always defended western democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and human dignity. Yle can not take part in an event where Russia, which has blatantly attacked these values, can use one of Europe’s best-known brands to promote its own interests. We hope the EBU will act in accordance with its values.

Yle

Finland is due to select its representative for Eurovision 2022 tomorrow, Saturday, February 26th.

For the countries that have already spoken up against Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022, you can refer to our previous article.

We remind you that the EBU, at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stated the following:

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political – cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have pledged to attend this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome them and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to monitor developments closely.

EBU

What will the EBUs reaction be after the pressure it’s receiving from several of its members? What will the final decision on Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 be?

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Eurovision 2022: After Sweden, four more countries take a stance against Russia’s participation in Turin!

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The EBU‘s response about Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 did not satisfy Norway, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands which, after Sweden, ask the EBU to reconsider its decision and not allow Russia to participate in the competition.

Following the request of the Ukrainian public television for expulsion of the corresponding Russian from the EBU, the latter in a statement underlined the apolitical nature of the competition and that it has no authority to punish its members (public radio and television), for acts committed by governments of their countries.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political – cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have pledged to attend this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome them and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to monitor developments closely.

EBU

However, this response did not satisfy Sweden, which, through SVT CEO Hanna Stjärne, asked the EBU to reconsider its decision on Russia. Today, four more broadcasters have been added to the list, those of Lithuania, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

Lithuania‘s general director of public television, Monika Garbaciauskaite, said in a statement today that she would soon raise the issue of Russia’s participation with the EBU. Norwegian public broadcaster has also just released a statement taking a clear stance. In a similar climate, the Danish public television informed the EBU that it is opposed to Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 and so did the dutch one AVROTROS a few minutes ago.

However, we have also had statements from the television of Finland, which, although they state that it is the responsibility of the EBU to make any decision regarding Russia’s participation, emphasize that they are closely monitoring the issue and will take a position on it soon.

Eurovision 2022 artists have also started taking a stance against Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022, as this year’s representatives of Latvia, Citi Zēni, have also personally asked the EBU not to allow the country that started a war in Europe to take part in the competition.

https://twitter.com/citi_zeni/status/1496959252925014017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496959252925014017%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feurovisionfun.com%2F2022%2F02%2Feurovision-2022-CEBCCEB5CF84CEAC-CF84CEB7CEBD-CF83CEBFCF85CEB7CEB4CEAFCEB1-CEB4CEB1CEBDCEAFCEB1-CEBACEB1CEB9-CEBBCEB9CEB8CEBFCF85CEB1CEBD%2F

We are awaiting with interest the reactions from the other members of the EBU, but also for the final decision regarding Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all developments!

The official EBU announcement regarding Russia’s participation

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After SVT’s pressure to exclude Russia from Eurovision Song Contest 2022, the EBU has said that Russia remains welcome at Eurovision 2022.

Jo Waters, Senior Communications Officer of the EBU made an official statement:

As the situation between Russia and Ukraine escalates, access to trusted, factual and impartial information is more critical than ever.

All media broadcasters and the EBU as a union are focused on doing our job for the public in difficult circumstances and will not hesitate to condemn any infringements or violations of press freedom.

It is vital for journalists to be allowed to continue to operate both freely and safely, and report without hindrance. Supporting media freedom must be prioritized, not despite these challenging circumstances, but because of them.

This situation puts the EBU in a difficult position. It is not the governments that are members of the EBU, but the broadcasters. The EBU is not in the position to sanction a member based on the actions of its government. They could claim – as UA:PBC suggested – that the broadcaster violated the member’s codes of conduct – as happened with Belarus.

When the EBU suspended Yugoslavia’s membership in the 1990s, their action was based on a UN Security Council Resolution. This will not happen with Ukraine, since Russia is a permanent member of the council and has the rights of veto power.

Should the EBU choose to suspend membership from Russia, this would be the second time in 12 months that a broadcaster has lost its membership from the EBU. In July 2021, the Belarusian public broadcaster had its EBU membership suspended for failing to meet its freedom of expression obligations.

Ukraine in the top 3 of the betting odds, Russia out of the top 20!

While all of the above is happening, Ukraine has rose again in the betting odds, despite replacing Alina Pash with Kalush Orchestra. They are currently in third place, unlike Russia who has been on a steady fall over the last few hours, and as a result are in 21st place as of now.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Russia is welcome at Eurovision 2022, says EBU | Sweden’s SVT asks to review this decision!

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The EBU in its statements today, immediately after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, stated that Russia remains welcome at Eurovision 2022.

Russia is welcome in Eurovision 2o22

Following the EBU’s statement that Russia remains open to the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, the SVT CEO of the Swedish public service broadcaster called on the EBU to reconsider.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have committed to participating in this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to follow developments closely.

EBU

Sweden is asking EBU reconsider its decision

Speaking to the GP, Hanna Stjärne, CEO of SVT, shared her thoughts on the EBU statement, noting:

The EBU needs to rethink. I sympathise with the basic idea of ​​Eurovision as an apolitical event. But the situation in Europe is extremely serious, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It crosses all boundaries. We have called on the EBU to change and will follow developments closely.

SVT

SVT is the first broadcaster to comment publicly on whether Russia should be able to compete in Eurovision 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine this morning.

Ukraine demands expulsion of Russia from the EBU

Earlier, Ukrainian public television asked the EBU to suspend membership of the Russian Public Television Association. Specifically they state:

key values ​​of public service broadcasting;
ensuring freedom of speech and information; free formation of points of view;
development of intercultural dialogue;

In a letter to the President of the European Broadcasting Union, Delphine Ernotte, the Chairman of the Board of Suspilne Mykola Chernotytskyy called on the EBU to:

We recognize that the process of terminating or suspending EBU membership requires careful consideration by the EBU Executive Board and referral to the EBU General Assembly. In the meantime, we call on the EBU to respond now to the unacceptable situation caused by Russia with the support of its essentially state broadcasters that are members of the EBU.

You can read the full letter here.

Should the EBU choose to suspend its membership from Russia, this will be the second time in 12 months that a broadcaster has lost its membership of the EBU. In July 2021, the Belarusian public broadcaster was suspended as a member of the EBU for failing to fulfill its obligations of freedom of expression.

In the top 3 of bets is Ukraine, except for the top 20 is Russia

While all of the above is happening, Ukraine has risen again in betting, despite the replacement of Alina Pash with the Kalush Orchestra. At the moment it is in the third place, in contrast to Russia which is in a continuous descent in the last hours, as a result of which it is in the 21st place at the time of writing!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

 

Russia: Three artists for the final selection | Dream Team’s participation is in doubt | EXCLUSIVE

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This year’s entry of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest will literally be announced in the last minute. The country’s public television, even at the time of writing, has not yet reached the song, nor the artist, who will represent Russia in Turin, with three names remaining on the table.

Three artists are still in the crisis of the Russian public television, Russia 1, for the representation of the country in Eurovision 2022. Although we are in the last ten days of February, Russia 1 has not made its final decisions.

Today 22/2, the Dream Team had another meeting for this purpose, with the management of the Russian public television, to discuss these three names. Two of them are women and one is a male artist.

According to our exclusive information, the Dream Team would undertake the difficult task of this year’s Russian representation in the competition (judging by the general political developments), in case one of the two artists they have proposed to Russia 1 for several months was selected. However, if the third artist on this list is finally selected, then the possibility that Dream Team will not represent Russia this year is the most probable.

The final decision as mentioned above has not been made, although it is expected to be finalized in the next 24 hours. Of course, due to time pressure, the song will be released at the end of the deadline, ie on the weekend of March 12-13.

We are waiting with interest for the final decisions of the Russian public television, on which, of course, the decisions of the Dream Team will depend. The only thing that is certain is that Russia will normally take part in Eurovision 2022, regardless of political developments.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding the Russian participation in Eurovision 2022!