As EBU has confirmed in a statement done this afternoon, Russia will not compete in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest that will be held in Turin.
As the European organism explains in the statement, the decision was done following a recomendation of the Eurovision Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and EBU itself. The recomendation, continues the statement, “is supported by the EBU’s Television Comittee”.
The decision to cancel the Russia participation, that also was taken after the consultation with its membership “reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s Contest would bring the competition into disrepute”.
The statement ends remembering that, on EBU, “We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage.”
You can read the full statement here
The statement follows those made, yesterday and today, by several European broadcasters asking the expulsion of Russia from Eurovision 2022. In the case of Yle (Finland) or ERR (Estonia) the countries would not participate in Eurovision 2022 if Russia would compete , while Suspilne (Ukraine), AVROTROS (The Netherlands) or the broadcasters of the Baltic Countries also asked a membership suspension of the Russian broadcasters asociated to EBU.
