Russia will not sing in the next Eurovision Song Contest, the final of which will be held on May 14 in Turin, Italy.
As Vladimir Putin launched a military offensive against Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the musical competition, finally decided to cut him off.
The body, headed by Delphine Ernotte, the president of France Télévisions, brings together more than a hundred channels and public radio stations in around fifty countries on the Old Continent.
The decision "
reflects concern that in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian bid in this year's contest could bring the competition into disrepute
," the EBU said in a statement. .
Ground of influence
On Thursday, the Ukrainian public channel UA:PBC, soon followed by other countries, had called for the exclusion of Russia.
Eurovision “
was created after the Second World War to unite Europe,
recalled Mykola Chernotytsky, chairman of the channel's board of directors.
In view of the current context, "
the participation of Russia, as an aggressor and violator of international law, undermines the very idea of competition
", argued the leader.
If it remains symbolic with regard to the war unfolding in Ukraine, this decision is nonetheless important in the field of influence.
Eurovision is one of the most watched television shows in the world with over 200 million viewers.
