Eurovision organizers vow to ensure Russia’s participation in contest

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the Eurovision international song contest, has confirmed its determination to ensure Russia’s participation in the contest which is going to be held in Kiev in May, Frank-Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest’s Reference Group, told Germany’s Tagesspiegel daily, TASS reports.

Frank-Dieter Freiling said from the initial stage of the contest preparation the EBU stated that participants of all countries must be allowed to perform at the contest. “If the decision to ban Russian participant from entering Ukraine stands, then the EBU will continue its efforts to provide Russia with an opportunity to participate”, he said.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has banned Yulia Samoilova from Ukraine for three years. The SBU claims that performing in Crimea in the summer of 2015, Samoilova violated Ukrainian government’s resolution obliging foreigners to receive permits for visits to the Black Sea peninsula.