There are only hours left for the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held for the 67th time this year.
Before the competition, which will be held in Liverpool, England, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been blocked from Eurovision.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, did not accept Zelenskiy’s request to join the contest via video conference.
Arguing that Zelenskiy, who has been participating in international meetings with video since the day Russia started its attacks on Ukraine, addressing the participants in the song contest will “politicize the contest”, the EBU requests that no political statements be made during the performances.
In the statement made by the EBU, it was stated that “Zelenskiy’s request to participate in the video, which was expected to appeal to 160 million people and ask for support for his country, was rejected by the organizers in the final part of the competition.”
In the statement, it was emphasized that Eurovision has been an international entertainment program with rules and principles since its inception.
Statement “We did not demand” from Ukraine
In the statement made by the Office of the President of Ukraine, it was noted that Zelenskiy did not apply to make a speech, and the statements were used: “The officials of the Ukrainian Presidency did not communicate with the Eurovision officials.”
Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest last year. However, due to the continuation of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, the competition will be held in Liverpool, England.