Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to participate via video message in the final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Liverpool, UK on Saturday, the organization announced on Thursday.
“Zelensky’s request to address the audience of the Eurovision Song Contest, although made with laudable intentions, unfortunately could not be granted as it would be against the rules of the event,” emphasized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which announced the organizing competition.
“One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political character of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar expressions during the competition”, added the organization, quoted by AFP.
Last year, Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Stefania” by the Kalush Orchestra. That is why it should have organized the competition this year, but the war that ravaged the country eventually led the organization to decide that the United Kingdom, runner-up, would be the host country.
Ukraine’s victory was mainly due to the popular vote. The country, which had been invaded by Russia months earlier, received a total of 631 votes, 439 of which were from the public.
Tribute to Ukraine in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest
This year’s final, with participation from 26 countries, will be a strong tribute to Ukraine, with eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including the Kalush Orchestra, EBU emphasized.
Video clips broadcast at night show different places in Ukraine.
Liverpool also unveiled a “symbol of hope” monument to Ukraine, an aluminum statue of a man holding a book from which a dove carrying a Ukrainian flag escapes.
Russia was excluded from the competition, as in the 2022 edition.
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live on RTP1 in Lisbon at 8 p.m.
Portugal was selected in the first semi-final last Tuesday with Mimicat’s “Ai Coração”, along with themes from Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czech Republic, Israel, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.
This Thursday, songs from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland were chosen as the last ten finalists for the final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.
This year, 37 countries are taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest, but only 26 make it to the final: the ten selected this Thursday, the ten selected on Tuesday in the first semifinal, the so-called ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Spain , the UK and Italy) and Ukraine for winning last year.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
