62nd song contest “Eurovision”, which will be held in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, turned into a chess game between Russia and Ukraine, who finished last year the first place.
In the centre of the debate around competition was a ban on entry into Ukraine, imposed by the security Service of Ukraine (SBU) against Yulia Samoilova, who was supposed to represent Russia.
Song contest, the European broadcasting Union (EBU) holds since 1956, has gone beyond the activities aimed at improving communication between member countries, and was accompanied by violent disputes.
Since 2013, Turkey decided not to participate in “Eurovision”, citing the unfair system of counting votes, as well as the fact that some member countries have direct access to the finals for political reasons. On the agenda there were also assumptions about possible bribery of votes of the jury.
The fight, which began after supporters of European integration in Ukraine three years ago overthrew the Pro-Russian government coming to the Area of Independence, then Russia illegally annexed Crimea last year moved into the arena of “Eurovision”.
The victory of Ukraine has caused concern Russia
Ukraine’s participation in “Eurovision” with a song about how the leader of the Soviet regime of Josef Stalin in 1944 deported Crimean Tatars from their historical homeland in overcrowded carriages, caused a negative reaction of the Russian side. She outlined its critical position due to the fact that the song has political overtones.
In response, the organizers of “Eurovision” came to the conclusion that the song has no political overtones, did not see any barriers to participation of the Crimean Tatar Jamala in the contest with a song called “1944”.
On the 61st Eurovision song contest, held in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, a song Jamala brought Ukraine the first place. Ukraine’s victory at Eurovision with a song about the Crimean Tatars has angered Russia.
The fact that this year the “Eurovision” contest will be held in Kyiv from 9 to 13 may, raised the question of whether Russia will participate in the competition. Russia also expressed an intention to participate, made a move that opened doors for new discussions around the “Eurovision”.
It was announced that Russia will be represented by Yulia Samoilova with the song “the Flame is burning”. Samoylova in early childhood received the first group of disability after unsuccessfully immunized against polio and is confined to a wheelchair. It was assumed that this can be an advantage Samoilova in the competition.
Samoilova performance at the gala concert of the festival “the World of sports and kindness” in 2015 in the city of Kerch on the territory of Crimea annexed by Russia pushed Ukraine to the decision about the possible removal of her from the contest in subsequent years.
Due to the fact that the Crimea was occupied, stay Samoilova on the Peninsula at that time without the permission of Ukraine was a crime under Ukrainian law. Ukrainian intelligence has banned Russian singer Samoilova entry into the country.
Russia’s decision to send Samoilov on “Eurovision” has been regarded as strategic and well thought out step.
On the one hand, the likelihood that the Russian singer in a wheelchair will provide the competition a success, with another — Russia, being in the position of the victim in the background of the decision to ban could gain the support of the international community. This situation, which the Ukrainian side considered “provocation”, again caused a confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, and complicated the task of the organizers of “Eurovision”. EMU was forced to take a position on the side of Russia.
Russia responds that Ukraine insists
Russia in response to Ukraine’s decision was going to raise this issue in the international arena. The Chairman of the Commission on development of public diplomacy and support of compatriots abroad Elena sutormina said that the question of prohibition be submitted to the UN and international organizations.
Official Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced the reaction of Moscow to the highest level: “the Decision of Ukraine, of course, devalues the competition and deals a blow to the prestige of “Eurovision””,.
The reaction of the organizers of “Eurovision” in response to this situation was not long to wait. The Director General of the EBU, Ingrid Deltenre (Ingrid Deltenre) sent to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Victor Groisman a letter demanding to cancel the ban against the Russian singer. The message noted: “the Current situation causes resentment by some members of the EMU. Many of them we have received reports that criticized the decision and considering the possibility of a waiver of competition”. But in a statement to the Swiss website Blick Deltenre warned that Ukraine could be suspended from this contest, if in the next few weeks a decision will be made.
Waiting for a final decision of Kiev
Despite the Russian reaction and prevention of the EMU, Ukraine, the hostess of the competition this year, yet continues to stand his ground.
The Minister of foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin said that the concessions in respect of the ban on entry into the country for Samoilova, which violated the Ukrainian law, are not on the agenda. “No concessions, formal or informal, are not discussed. We’re talking about the implementation of the law. If the law is broken, we can’t talk about any steps”, — said Klimkin, clearly hinting that it is impossible to refuse.
Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kirilenko said: “to Demand from Ukraine an unprecedented decisions in favor of Russia in violation of its own laws and international law is unprecedented and unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Groysman has not yet responded to the letter from the EMU. The public is curious about the final solution of the Ukraine.
Russia move in a chess game with Ukraine today cornered and Ukraine, and the West, using its own tool, as the song contest “Eurovision”. And who in this game will put the “Mat” time will tell.
