Eurovision bans Zelensky’s speech on the pageant, UK Prime Minister reacts

Sputnik – As final yr’s winner, Ukraine was presupposed to host the occasion, however with the battle occurring, the group determined to carry the version in the UK. This yr, Zelensky was additionally banned from talking on the Academy Awards.

The Eurovision Track Contest organizers prevented President Vladimir Zelensky’s speech from being launched this yr. It was reported that Zelenskiy needed to seem on video within the competitors’s last sport on Saturday, in entrance of an anticipated world viewers of 160 million.

However in an announcement on Thursday (10), the occasion rejected the president’s request, regardless of his “good intentions,” arguing that the act would violate his political neutrality.

“The Eurovision Track Contest is a global leisure present, which is ruled by strict guidelines and rules. As a part of this, one of many pillars of the competitors is the non-political nature of the occasion. This precept prohibits the opportunity of making the occasion political or the like,” mentioned the excerpt from the assertion revealed by the organizers and quoted by the BBC. BBC”.

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Ukraine was scheduled to host Eurovision this yr after profitable final yr, however it’s being held in Liverpool after the beginning of the Russian operation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted by the media as saying he was “disenchanted” with the pageant’s resolution. Its spokesperson mentioned that Eurovision “acknowledged this final yr” by banning Russian performers from collaborating.

However he added that the prime minister had no intention of interfering and asking broadcasters to vary their minds.

Zelensky was additionally banned from talking on the Oscars this yr for the second time in a row, because the US organizers made the identical arguments.