The All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company and Channel One have suspended their memberships in the EBU. Yesterday the EBU announced that Russia will not take part in Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Following their invansion of Ukraine, multiple broadcasters expressed their view on whether Russia should take part in Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC also 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.
Now VGTRK and Channel One have announced their withdrawal from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in response to Russia’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year Russia was represented by Manizha with the song “Russian Woman”. For now, she is the last Russian act on the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 takes place in Turin, Italy from May 10th to May 14th. 40 countries are set to take part in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest.