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| Eurovision 2017: Ukraine bars Russian singer Samoilova from contest | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine has barred Russia's Eurovision contestant because she performed in Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014. | Ukraine has barred Russia's Eurovision contestant because she performed in Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014. |
| Julia Samoilova was banned from entering Ukraine for three years because of her "illegal" visit, the Ukrainian SBU security service said. | |
| Samoilova, 27, has confirmed that she sang in Crimea in 2015. Ukraine is due to host Eurovision in Kiev, in May. | Samoilova, 27, has confirmed that she sang in Crimea in 2015. Ukraine is due to host Eurovision in Kiev, in May. |
| The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which founded Eurovision, said it was "deeply disappointed" by the news. | |
| "We have to respect the local laws of the host country, however we are deeply disappointed in this decision as we feel it goes against both the spirit of the contest and the notion of inclusivity that lies at the heart of its values," it said in a statement. | |
| The EBU said it would "continue a dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with the aim of ensuring that all artists can perform" in Kiev. | |
| A senior Russian politician, Frants Klintsevich, was quoted by Ria-Novosti news agency as saying Russia would boycott future Eurovision contests if the organisers failed to stand up for the singer. | A senior Russian politician, Frants Klintsevich, was quoted by Ria-Novosti news agency as saying Russia would boycott future Eurovision contests if the organisers failed to stand up for the singer. |
| Howls of outrage: Analysis by Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, Moscow | Howls of outrage: Analysis by Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, Moscow |
| The Eurovision song contest just got political. Russia and Ukraine are now locking horns over Moscow's choice of competitor. | The Eurovision song contest just got political. Russia and Ukraine are now locking horns over Moscow's choice of competitor. |
| There is already a predictable chorus of fury here. A deputy foreign minister called the ruling outrageous, cynical and inhumane - no less. One MP is demanding that the contest is moved to another country while a second warns that Russia will boycott every Eurovision to come unless organisers intervene to resolve this. | There is already a predictable chorus of fury here. A deputy foreign minister called the ruling outrageous, cynical and inhumane - no less. One MP is demanding that the contest is moved to another country while a second warns that Russia will boycott every Eurovision to come unless organisers intervene to resolve this. |
| Some suspect this is precisely what Moscow wanted when it chose Julia Samoilova, knowing that she had travelled to Crimea. | Some suspect this is precisely what Moscow wanted when it chose Julia Samoilova, knowing that she had travelled to Crimea. |
| Adding to the howls of outrage here is the fact that the singer being banned has used a wheelchair from childhood and this year the slogan for Eurovision is celebrating diversity. | Adding to the howls of outrage here is the fact that the singer being banned has used a wheelchair from childhood and this year the slogan for Eurovision is celebrating diversity. |
| The SBU has blacklisted at least 140 other Russian artists. | The SBU has blacklisted at least 140 other Russian artists. |
| Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since the annexation of Crimea and subsequent fighting in east Ukraine, which Moscow is accused of stoking. | Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since the annexation of Crimea and subsequent fighting in east Ukraine, which Moscow is accused of stoking. |
| Ukraine is hosting the competition after its singer, Jamala, caused an upset by winning in Sweden last year. | Ukraine is hosting the competition after its singer, Jamala, caused an upset by winning in Sweden last year. |
| Her song, 1944, was about Joseph Stalin's mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars during World War Two. | Her song, 1944, was about Joseph Stalin's mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars during World War Two. |
| The SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) said earlier it would verify information about Samoilova's visit to Crimea and take a decision. | The SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) said earlier it would verify information about Samoilova's visit to Crimea and take a decision. |
| Who is Julia Samoilova? | Who is Julia Samoilova? |
| Last month, the contest was rocked by the resignation of 21 top-level staff who organise the event. | Last month, the contest was rocked by the resignation of 21 top-level staff who organise the event. |
| The Ukrainian Eurovision team said they had been stripped of major responsibilities in December, when a new boss was appointed to the organising committee. | The Ukrainian Eurovision team said they had been stripped of major responsibilities in December, when a new boss was appointed to the organising committee. |
| According to their resignation letter, they were "completely blocked" from making decisions about the show. | According to their resignation letter, they were "completely blocked" from making decisions about the show. |
| The EBU told Ukraine's public broadcaster to "stick to the timeline" despite the upheaval. It insisted the event would go ahead as planned in Kiev. |