RUSSIA – Following the apathetic statement by the EBU statement, today FINALLY national broadcasters realise what RUSSIA is and insist the EBU take actions, aiming to oust the country from Eurovision 2022. The news comes in addition to the Danish and Swedish national broadcaster request.
SWEDEN / DENMARK
Swedish broadcaster SVT released a statement on Thursday condemning Russiaโs participation, while their CEO Hanna Stjรคrne commented that the situation in Ukraine โcrosses all boundariesโ. DMGP Editor-in-Chief Gustav Lรผtzhรธft made Danish broadcaster DRโs position clear in an interview with Ekstra Bladet:
“We disagree with the EBUโs assessment in this case. Given the very serious situation in Ukraine right now, we find it incompatible with Eurovisionโs values โโthat Russia is participating.”
NORWAY
NRK stated this morning that Russia would not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022. The Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, has openly said that Russia should not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, in 2022. This follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine yesterday morning. Gjermund Eriksen, NRK’s Head of Broadcasting, said in a statement:
“NRK has given clear advice to the EBU that Russia can not participate in this yearโs Eurovision Song Contest as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, this is a member organisation that needs some time to anchor a decision. We have full confidence that the EBU will reach the right decision.”
THE NETHERLANDS
AVROTROS, a Dutch broadcaster, has asked the European Broadcasting Union to suspend Russian member stations from the EBU. The demand comes in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
“Personally and also as director of AVROTROS I no longer want to remain silent. This is the time for Europe to unite and show what we stand for. Russiaโs military actions have long since ceased to be about politics; this is a gross violation of universal values โโsuch as sovereignty and human rights. I also ask other countries to speak out and call on the EBU to suspend Russia from EBU membership, so that they can no longer participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin.”
FINLAND
Yle is the latest station to request that Russia be removed from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest by the European Broadcasting Union. The broadcaster is the first to announce that if Russia is still permitted to participate in the tournament after its invasion of Ukraine, it would not send a representative.
“Russiaโs attack on Ukraine runs counter to all the values โโthat Yle and other European broadcasters represent. Yle always defends Western democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and human dignity. Yle cannot take part in an event where Russia, which has blatantly attacked these values, can use one of Europeโs best-known brands to advance its own interests. I hope that the EBU will act in accordance with its values โโhere […] Yleโs UMK has been successfully bringing out new domestic music for ten years. We will have some great songs and artists in the finals this year as well. I believe and hope that one of them will have the opportunity to perform for the whole of Europe in May.”
LITHUANIA
Monika Garbaiauskait-Budrien, the head of LRT, has urged the European Broadcasting Union not to allow Russia to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. This follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Ms Garbaiauskait-Budrien told LRT that they had written to the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group stating their reasons for not allowing Russia to participate.
“The rules of the organization and the Eurovision Song Contest cannot prevent a proper response to criminals. Next week, we will invite other countries to join a joint statement calling for Russiaโs exclusion from Eurovision. We use all means to achieve our goal.”
ESTONIA
Erik Roose, Chairman of the Board of ERR has said that Estoniaโs participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is dependent on whether Russia is allowed to compete in Turin.
“Obviously, it is inconceivable that Estonia will participate in Eurovision in a situation where Russia participates there, but in this case, Ukraine will not. Our colleagues from other Baltic countries will apparently share this view. We will continue to communicate with the EBU as the organizer of the song contest.”
ICELAND
Iceland, together with all of its Nordic stations, has urged the European Broadcasting Union to ban Russia from the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The move follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 12. In a statement, RV’s Radio Director, Stefรกn Eirksson, stated:
“We have been in contact with our Nordic colleagues who share our concerns about the situation in Ukraine. It is the opinion of all of us that it will not work for Russia to participate in Eurovision in these circumstances. I have full faith that the EBU will take this seriously and responsibly.โ
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