Eurovision organizing committee comments on possible sanctions against Ukraine

Deutsche Welle received confirmation of statement by EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenere, published in Blick Swiss tabloid, regarding the participation of Russian singer Yulia Samoilova in the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Kyiv. At the same time, the EBU noted that they bore no responsibility for other conclusions of the newspaper, in particular, that the Union allegedly considered the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ukraine, particularly, exclusion of Ukraine from the Eurovision participants. "We are working hard to ensure that all 43 Eurovision contestants could perform at this year's contest," the EBU stated. However, the organization noted that in case of violation of the competition rules, they could consider "certain measures" against the offender. As we have reported, Ukraine’s Security Service has banned Russian entrant to this year’s song contest from entering due to her illegal entry into Crimea, occupied by Russia. Eurovision 2017 will be held in Kyiv in May.