Ukraine’s government has barred the wheelchair-bound Russian singer Yulia Samoilova from entering the country to attend the Eurovision finals in Kiev, following allegations that she had previously “broken Ukrainian law” by performing in occupied Crimea.
Every year, Europe (along with Australia, Russia, and Central Asian countries) hosts the Eurovision Song Contest—a talent show that highlights rising stars across the globe. The contest takes place in a series of rounds, and those who qualify for the finals have their performances televised internationally. This year, the finals are set to take place in Kiev in May.
Ukraine was selected to host the contest in 2017 after its singer, Jamala, won last year with a politically-charged song—widely seen as criticism of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russian singer Sergey Lazarev took third place in the final despite winning the international televote.
The decision to ban Samoilova from entering Ukraine for three years prevents her from representing Russia in the contest this year. A Ukraine Security Council spokeswoman, Elena Gitlyanskaya, announced the decision to ban the singer on Wednesday in a post on Facebook.
According to Russia Today, Ukrainian officials announced earlier that they were investigating Samoilova for possibly violating Ukrainian law when she performed in the Russian-annexed region of Crimea without their approval.
Following the ban, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement calling the decision “a cynical and inhuman act by Kiev authorities.” Their words have been echoed by the European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the production of Eurovision.
“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,” they said, adding that they intend to keep speaking with Kiev officials “with the aim of ensuring that all artists can perform.”
Observers note that the ban may be nothing more than a political statement by the Kiev government.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.