Russian First Channel refuses to broadcast Eurovision-2017

The First Channel (Russia) has refused to broadcast Eurovision-2017 in Kiev because the Ukrainian authorities have not allowed Russian Eurovision participant Yuliya Samoilava to enter the country. She violated the Ukrainian law by visiting Crimea controlled by Russia now. The First Channel has received a letter from the European Broadcasting Union that has admitted that it is impossible to settle the issue and that the Russian representative will be unable to participate in Eurovision-2017. Kiev’s decision is absolutely ‘ungrounded’ and it is an attempt ‘to politicize the contest’, Moscow thinks.

Russians have not accepted the suggestion of the European Broadcasting Union to replace Samoilava or to broadcast her performance from Russia.