Russia bans entry into Eurovision song contest

Russia zero points! She will not be competing in the Eurovision Song Contest this year, after Moscow invaded Ukraine, the organizer of one of Europe’s most popular cultural events.

“In the wake of today’s unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, Russia’s participation this year is feared to bring the competition into disrepute.

In 2008, Russia won the competition only once, with Dima Bilan singing “Believe” in English.

Ukraine won twice in 2004 and 2016. With the song “1944” that year, the lyrics are almost like a reference today after the Russian troops invaded the country.

“When the aliens come, they will come to your house, they will kill all of you and we are not guilty, not guilty,” Jamala sang, two years after Vladimir Putin took over Crimea, the conflict with the pro-. Russian separatists in the east of the country.

This time no artist representing Russia will be able to participate in this popular event, which will not be broadcast live on all public television channels on the European continent and it has taken on a cult dimension, but this country will not vote for others. Benefits.

Russia is “completely excluded from the whole event,” which brings together tens of millions of spectators each year, an EBU spokeswoman interviewed by AFP said.

The country – and those who openly support President Putin’s decision – must face cascading cancellations of sporting or cultural events.

“We are committed to safeguarding the values ​​of a cultural competition that promotes international exchange and mutual understanding, unites audiences, celebrates diversity through music and unites the whole of Europe on a single stage,” further emphasizes the EBU that comes together. Serving many public broadcasters and a potential audience of one billion people.

Italy will host the 66th edition of the event after Leathery Italian rockers Maneskin won last year in Rotterdam.

This is the third Italian edition of Eurovision, after Naples in 1965 and Rome in 1991.

The final will take place on Saturday, May 14 at the Pala Olympico, one of the largest indoor stadiums in Italy. As for the two semi-finals, they will take place on May 10 and 12.

By 2021, nearly 190 million people will have followed the competition on television and the Internet.

Football, Formula 1, Olympic Games, events planned for this year in Russia have been canceled or repatriated to another country.

Renowned Russian conductor Valery Gurguyev, known as a close associate of the President of Russia, was deprogrammed in Prague and replaced in Carnegie Hall, New York.

And in Latvia, the famous rock band Brainstorm canceled a tour of Russia.