The European Broadcasting Union has announced that no Russian act will participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
In the statement the EBU says that the Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest’s governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the union. The Reference Group recommendation was also supported by the EBU’s Television Committee.
This comes after multiple broadcasters expressed their view on whether Russia should take part in Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC has asked EBU to suspend the memberships of Channel One and the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company in the European Broadcasting Union, while other broadcasters joined in to ask the EBU to exclude Russia from the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. For example, Finland’s broadcaster Yle stated that if Russia is allowed to take part in the competition, Finland will withdraw.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 takes place in Turin, Italy from May 10th to May 14th. 40 countries are now set to take part in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest.
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