Deprived of speech. While he wanted to speak by video message on the occasion of the final of Eurovision this Saturday, May 13, Volodymyr Zelensky saw his request refused by the organization of the contest. The Ukrainian president wanted to continue to raise awareness among the general public as well as the European authorities about the situation in Ukraine.
"Mr. Zelensky's request to address the audience of the Eurovision Song Contest, although made with laudable intentions, cannot be reluctantly accepted as it would break the rules of the event," said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizing association of the contest. "One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the contest," said the world's largest neutral alliance of public service media.
Russia excluded
If speeches are banned, the final, which brings together 26 countries, still plans to pay tribute to Ukraine with the presence of eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including Kalush Orchestra, last year's winner, said the EBU. Video clips broadcast during the evening of Saturday will show different places in the country. In addition, Russia is excluded from the competition for the second year in a row.
See alsoEurovision 2023: budget, host city, organization... If France wins, what will happen next year?
The contest is being held this year in Liverpool, the United Kingdom having offered to host Eurovision in place of Ukraine, winner last year, and as such should have organized the event but had to abandon it because of the war.
Earlier this month, the city of Liverpool unveiled a monument "symbol of hope" for Ukraine, an aluminum statue of a man holding a book from which escapes a dove with a Ukrainian flag.
❤️ | The Salvation Army's Strawberry Field in Liverpool has today unveiled an iconic, world-first monument dedicated to bringing peace and hope to the people of Ukraine and everywhere. 💙💛🇺🇦
@AshKnotty READ NOW 👉 https://t.co/f4Oql0SPIb pic.twitter.com/e0iIrD0dKQ
— Explore Liverpool (@ExploreLpool) May 2, 2023
Volodymyr Zelensky regularly speaks remotely at congresses or assemblies in Europe and around the world.