February 16, 2022

Alina Pash withdraws

Alina Pash decided to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest. That is what she announced today on instagram. She made the decision after it appeared that one of her team members forged the documents about her travel to Crimea. This is Alina’s full statement: I am a citizen of Ukraine, I follow the laws of Ukraine, I try to bring the traditions and values of Ukraine to the world.What this story turned out to be is not at all what I put into my song. I am an artist, not a politician. I do not have an army of PR people, managers, lawyers to resist all this attack and pressure, the break-in of my social networks; threats. And also absolutely unacceptable words that people allow themselves without understanding the situation and forgetting about the dignity of every citizen of Ukraine I don’t want this virtual war and hatred. The main war now is an external one, which came to my country in 2014. I don’t want to be in this dirty story anymore. With a heavy heart I withdraw my candidacy as the representative of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately. I’m really sorry. We will contact the Public and sign all the necessary documents. Apart from this, I want to thank everyone who supported and helped me, who heard my song and important message, not gossip about me. Thanks! We have a story going on with you, and we have to decide what it will be ❤️ Let’s unite! Now it is more important than ever!???????????????? It is not known what will be the next step taken by Ukrainian Television, UNT. We keep you updated!

Nadir Rüstəmli to represent Azerbaijan

Nadir Rüstəmli will represent Azerbaijan in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. He announced that himself this morning at a tv-show, although he did not know at that moment. He was given a multiple choice question: “Who is going to represent Azerbaijan?”. The fourth option was his own name. That was the right answer. Nadir Rüstəmli is an Azerbaijani singer who participated in several national song contest and even won one in 2019. He also won the Azerbaijani version of “The Voice”. Out of more than 300 songs, six will be selected and judged by a jury. The second week of march, the song Nadir is going to sing will be presented. Nadir Rüstəmli singing “Arcade” (Eurovision 2019) in “The Voice Azerbaijan”

Ukrainian entry suspended

According to BBC News, the Ukrainian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, “Tini zabutykh predkiv” has been suspended. Again, it has something to do with the fact that she visited Crimea. That is legal in Ukraine, as long as one travels via the Ukrainian border. Every contestant who visited Crimea after Russia annexed it, must provide documents which prove that the visit was legal. And that is where the problem starts for Alina Pash, the winner of the Ukrainian final last Saturday. Alina had the requested documents, but now they seem to be forged. If Alina traveled to Crimea via Russia, her Eurovision participation is in serious danger. NTU, Ukrainian broadcasting corporation, is now waiting for the border control service to investigate Alina’s documents. Until everything is clear, Alina’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is suspended. Contracts are not signed yet and will only be signed if the documents are proven to be authentic. In 2019, Ukraine withdrew. National final winner Maruv had performed in Crimea after the annexation. NTU decided that therefore, she couldn’t represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest. Other participants in the national final did not want to replace her.