Ukraine bars Russia entry from Eurovision Song Contest 2017
March 22, 2017
Ukraine has barred Russia's Eurovision contestant from entering the country because she previously performed in Crimea. Relations between the neighbors have deteriorated since Moscow's 2014 annexation of the territory.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/E.Lyzlova
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Ukraine's security service said Wednesday it had "banned the citizen of the Russian Federation Yulia Samoylova from entering the country for a period of three years."
A spokeswoman said Samoylova violated Ukrainian laws when she toured Crimea in 2015 without entering the territory via the de-facto border with the Ukrainian mainland.
The 27-year-old singer, who has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood, sang at the opening of the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. In 2015, she traveled to Crimea to perform at a gala concert aimed at promoting sports. Earlier this month she was chosen to represent Russia at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in Kyiv from May 11-13.
Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and the ensuing Moscow-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine have sent diplomatic relations between the two ex-Soviet countries to an all-time low.
Ukraine's Jamala won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in StockholmImage: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Moscow slams 'outrageous' ban
Russia lashed out at Ukrainian authorities over the travel ban, calling it "yet another outrageous, cynical and inhumane act."
Ukraine had previously condemned the choice of singer as a Russian "provocation," while the Kremlin said it wanted to avoid "politicizing" the international singing event. Moscow accused Kyiv of similar provocations at last year's contest in Stockholm. Ukraine's 2016 entrant was a Crimean Tatar named Jamala, whose song decried war-time deportations of Tatars under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1940s.
The organizers of Eurovision said in a statement they were "deeply disappointed" by Ukraine's decision to ban the Russian singer, adding that "it goes against both the spirit of the contest, and the notion of inclusivity that lies at the heart of its values."
Samoylova had intended to sing "Flame Is Burning" in English. Last week she told a Russian newspaper it was her "greatest dream" to sing at Eurovision.
The final results at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest
It was an extremely suspenseful evening. Although Australia was a clear favorite for the national juries, Ukraine won - and Russia came in third. Germany finished last.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
The winner: Ukraine
Australia was the clear favorite according to the 42 national juries and ranked first until the top two public vote-getters were finally revealed to be Ukraine and Russia. Ultimately, the Ukrainian singer Jamala won with "1944," a gripping song about murder and persecution.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Australia's surprising second
The South Korea-born Australian singer Dami Im took the stage in a glittering white gown. Her performance of the song "Sound of Silence" convinced several national juries, earning her 320 points - way more than any other performer. Though everyone was worried about having the next Eurovision Song Contest held Down Under, that problem was finally solved by the public's votes.
Image: EBU/Andres Putting
Third (and first): Russia
The special effects accompanying the performance of Russia's Sergey Lazarev were so high-tech that he appeared to be defying gravity while singing "You Are the Only One." Betting odds placed him as a clear favorite: In the end, even though he finished third, he did in fact receive the most votes from the public - a fact that Russia's state television was quick to point out.
Image: DW/S. Wünsch
Rocking fourth: Bulgaria
Poli Genova rocked the night with her song "If Love Was a Crime." She was representing Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time. Genova's 2011 entry hadn't managed to get past the semifinals, but this year she established a new high for her country by reaching fourth place.
Image: EBU/Andres Putting
Refreshing fifth: Sweden
The 17-year-old Frans Jeppsson Wall, better known as Frans, forgot that the Eurovision Song Contest was all about glitter and kitsch. Dressed in a simple normcore style, he offered a refreshing break from the melodramatic acts with his song "If I Were Sorry." It secured Sweden the fifth spot.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Unfortunately last: Germany
The 18-year-old German candidate, Jamie-Lee, performed "Ghost" in an outfit inspired by Asian mangas. Apparently this unusual style was too daring for both the juries and the public: She received a total 11 points - putting her dead last.
