Banned from Eurovision, Russian singer performs in Crimea

Record ID: 900871

  • Title: Banned from Eurovision, Russian singer performs in Crimea
  • Date: 10th May 2017
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, LYUDMILA DOBROVOLSKAYA, SAYING: "This (Eurovision) is not a song contest, it is not a contest of singers. This is a contest of politicians. Moreover it is not done in a humane way. We don't like a competition like that." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, SERGEI MIKHAYEV, SAYING: "Victory Day is indeed victorious for us. Why is that? Because they (Ukrainian authorities) rejected her (Yulia Samoylova), but we are happy to greet her here with all our soul, we are longing for her performance. And we welcome her here, and we are very happy for her. And the fact that she was not allowed (to enter Ukraine) - that's their problem. Here we are always happy to listen to our people, because Victory Day is celebrated by the whole world."
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2017 08:24
  • Keywords: Crimea singer Eurovision Russian singer Yulia Samoylova
  • Location: SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA
  • City: SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026G99A2V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Russian singer Yulia Samoylova has sung her Eurovision entry "Flame is burning" in Crimea as part of celebrations to mark the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, an act of defiance after host Ukraine barred her from the competition.
    Ukraine said Samoylova could not travel to Kiev for the Eurovision finals, which began on Tuesday (May 9), because she had performed in Crimea in 2015, after Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine.
    Samoylova performed on Tuesday to the delight of thousands in the port city of Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet.
    "This (Eurovision) is not a song contest, this is not a contest of singers. This is a contest of politicians," spectator Lyudmila Dobrovolskaya told Reuters Television. "We do not like such a contest."
    Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but most countries still consider it part of Ukraine. Samoylova also sang "Victory Day", a Soviet song composed for World War Two celebrations.
    Moscow has accused Ukraine of discriminating against Samoylova and of breaching the contest's rules.
    Russia rejected two compromises suggested by Eurovision's organisers to allow Samoylova to perform, and its state broadcaster said it would boycott this year's contest.
    Samoylova avoided mention of Eurovision and thanked the crowd in the central Nakhimov Square for inviting her on the symbolic day.
    The Eurovision contest attracts millions of television viewers across Europe. For many countries, especially former Communist states in Europe, performing well in the event is seen as a matter of national pride.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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