Suspilne Responded to Polyakova Regarding Changes to the Rules of the National Selection for Eurovision

On August 7, “Public Broadcasting” publicly responded to a statement by singer Olga Polyakova, who proposed changing the rules of the National Selection for Eurovision for artists who have visited Russia since 2014. The organizers explained their position regarding the current requirements for contest participants.

“Suspilne” did not support Olga Polyakova’s call to change the rules of the National Selection. The organization emphasized that performers who have been associated with the Russian entertainment industry and have visited the aggressor country since the start of the war in 2014 cannot represent Ukraine.

“The unity of Ukrainians and support for talented performers are at the heart of the National Selection. That is precisely what the Rules are aimed at. The war has been ongoing since 2014. Ukraine should be represented at Eurovision by performers who have no ties to the Russian entertainment industry and did not engage in concert or public activities in the Russian Federation while part of our country was already occupied, terrible tragedies were unfolding, and Ukrainian soldiers were defending the country at the cost of their own lives,” the statement reads.

At the same time, “Suspilne” acknowledges that the artists’ views and positions may have changed over the course of 12 years of war. Therefore, those interested are being offered other positions or roles in the National Selection. However, participants who have visited Russia or Belarus after 2022 are prohibited from representing the country at the international contest.

“We understand that over the course of 12 years, people’s perceptions of the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war may have changed. Therefore, creative industry professionals who do not meet the criteria of the National Selection may participate in this project in other roles that do not directly involve representing Ukraine and, accordingly, do not jeopardize the country’s participation in the contest,” the company stated.

The rules barring artists who performed in Russia, Crimea, or other occupied territories of Ukraine after March 15, 2014, from participating in the National Selection for Eurovision were adopted by “Suspilne” in 2019.

The rules were introduced following a conflict with singer Maruv, who had won the National Selection. The artist’s collaboration with Russia outraged the Ukrainian public. In the end, the star did not represent Ukraine at Eurovision. Subsequently, the rules were expanded to prohibit performers who had performed in Belarus after February 24, 2022, from participating in the national selection.

Source: Public Broadcasting

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