Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to participate via video message during the final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place on Saturday in Liverpool, United Kingdom, the organization announced Thursday.
“Zelensky’s request to address the audience of the Eurovision Song Contest, although made with laudable intentions, unfortunately could not be granted because it would violate the rules of the event,” stressed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event. contest.
“One of the pillars of the competition is the apolitical nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the competition,” added the organization, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Last year Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Stefania” by the Kalush Orchestra.
Therefore, it should have hosted the competition this year, but the war that ravaged the country eventually led the organization to decide that the United Kingdom, second ranked, would be the host country.
Ukraine’s victory was essentially due to the popular vote. The country, which had been invaded by Russia months earlier, won a total of 631 votes, 439 of them by popular vote.
This year’s final, which will see participation from 26 countries, will feature a strong tribute to Ukraine, with eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including the Kalush Orchestra, the EBU underlined.
Video clips broadcast overnight will show different locations in Ukraine.
Liverpool also unveiled a “symbol of hope” monument for Ukraine, an aluminum statue of a man holding a book from which a dove with a Ukrainian flag escapes.
Russia was excluded from the competition, just like in the 2022 edition.
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live on RTP1 at 20:00 in Lisbon.
Portugal was selected in the first semifinal, last Tuesday, with “Ai Coração”, by Mimicat, along with songs from Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.
This Thursday, songs from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland were the last ten finalists chosen for the final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.
This year, 37 countries participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, but only 26 reach the final: the ten chosen this Thursday, the ten that were selected on Tuesday, in the first semifinal, the so-called ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Spain, 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: TSF
