Below, you can choose to watch or read our statement on the Belarusian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Yesterday, the EBU announced an entry and an act to perform under the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Upon reading the lyrics of the entry, and learning the foundations upon which this group are based, it is clear to us – the whole team at ESCXTRA.com – that the Belarusian entry breaks the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, as published by the EBU:
Rule 2.7 – Respect for ESC and EBU values
The Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, published by the European Broadcast Union.
“No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political, commercial or similar nature shall be permitted during the Eurovision Song Contest. No swearing or other unacceptable language shall be allowed in the lyrics or in the performances of the songs.”
As the lyrics of the entry submitted by the Belarusian broadcaster BTRC contain idiomatic lyrics which refer to the ongoing and well documented political crisis, protests and fraudulent election results from autumn 2020.
We believe that the EBU should disqualify the Belarusian entry from the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, in the same way that Georgia was disqualified in 2009.
Nathan Waddell & Nick van Lith
Editor-in-Chief & Deputy Editor-in-Chief | ESCXTRA.com
UPDATE – 11/03, 15:45 CET: The EBU has now rejected the Belarusian entry and asked the broadcaster to make modifications or face disqualification.
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