Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be able to appear with a video message at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on Thursday that Selenskyj’s request to be able to address the audience of the Eurovision Song Contest “cannot be accepted because it violates the rules of the event”.
One of the cornerstones of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits the possibility of political or similar statements within the framework of the competition, the organizers explained. Even if Zelenskyj’s request was made with “laudable intentions”, “unfortunately it cannot be granted because it would be against the rules”.
The ESC will be held in Liverpool this year. Last year, the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won the ESC. Because of the ongoing war, however, the final cannot take place as usual in the country of the previous year’s winner for the first time.
At the finale on Saturday, Ukraine is to be given special recognition: Eleven artists from Ukraine will be performing, including last year’s winners. Various regions of the country are shown in video clips. (AFP)