Zelensky denied to speak at Eurovision final
Photo: Office of the President
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, was not allowed to address the Eurovision audience.
The Times reports that it was due to the position of the organizer — the European Broadcasting Union — which stated that this could lead to the event's politicization.
"The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment show governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation," said the representative of the union. "As part of these, one of the cornerstones of the contest is the non-political nature of the event."
He states, "This principle prohibits the possibility of making political or similar statements as part of the contest."
"The request by Mr. Zelensky to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, whilst made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted as it would be against the rules of the event," the representative of the union added.
Zelensky has been denied access to entertainment events before. His request to speak at the Oscars for the second year in a row was declined, as was his speech to the Toronto Film Festival in September. However, Zelensky has been invited to address Davos 2022, the US Congress, and Parliament in the past.
At the same time, the chair of the Lords Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, the former head of the BBC's political department, Baroness Tina Stovell, told the publication: "It's the wrong decision to deny him the opportunity to give a message on the basis that they don't support political statements. It's not acceptable."
Also, former Minister of Culture Lord Ed Vaizey believes Zelensky should be allowed to perform at Eurovision.
"This is a joyful evening and a coming together of European nations and entertainers, but we all know what the backdrop is, and it is pathetic to hide away from it," he said, noting that the only reason the competition is held in Britain is because of the war, "and would be courteous to allow Zelensky to make a statement about why Ukraine is in the very unfortunate position of not being able to host."
The European Broadcasting Union, which includes about 100 broadcasters, including the BBC, emphasized that it continues to support Ukraine during the contest involving Ukrainian artists. According to them, at least eleven performers from Ukraine will perform at the competition. Moreover, 37 places in Ukraine are presented on the screen in short videos that give an idea of each of the artists before their performance on stage.
"We believe that this is the best way to reflect and celebrate Ukraine's Eurovision Song Contest win and show we are united by music during these hard times," union representatives said.
The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Liverpool after Ukraine, which won the 2022 contest with Kalush Orchestra's Stefania, failed to meet the requirements to host the contest due to security concerns caused by the Russian invasion. Ukraine is represented by the band TVORCHI with the song Heart of Steel. The final of the competition will be held on May 13.
