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Ukraine: UA:PBC To Appeal EBU Fine

The Director General of UA:PBC has confirmed that they will be appealing the fine placed on it by the European Broadcasting Union today.

Zurab Alasania has confirmed this afternoon that the Ukrainian national broadcaster will be appealing the fine that the European Broadcasting Union announced on it this morning. Mr Alasania reports that the fine placed on the broadcaster by the EBU totals 200,000 Euros, the EBU had refused to comment this morning on the size of the fine.

The Director General of UA:PBC said in a statement to Reuters,

Formally, it wasn’t us who made the decision not to allow her (Russian singer Yulia Samoilova), but I don’t think that the SBU (State Security Service) or the government will want to take part in this,

UA:PBC has been fined by the European Broadcasting Union for the delays in the organisation of this years contest and a lack of co-operation with the EBU over the participation of the Russian artist in the contest. In a statement the European Broadcasting Union added,

As a result of this, attention was drawn away from the competition and the brand reputation of the Eurovision Song Contest was endangered.

It was revealed this afternoon that Russia will not face any financial penalties for non-attendance of the Heads of Delegation Meeting, as well as not broadcasting this years contest. The Reference Group of the contest instead reprimanded the Russian broadcaster, Channel One for their actions.


Yulia Samoilova the singer selected to represent Russia at Eurovision 2017 was banned from entering Ukraine for a period of three years by the Ukrainian Security Service in the build up to the contest. Yulia was banned after it was found she had traveled to Crimea in 2015 and did not use an official Ukrainian border entrance, thus breaching Ukrainian law.

Following the initial banning of the EBU responded the following day by suggesting that Yulia could perform remotely in Moscow. The proposal was rejected by Channel One who stated they did not want the rules changed for them, while Ukraine insisted that the proposal would reject existing rules.

The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest went on to propose that Ukraine only enforce the ban after the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 has been held in May. Mr Sandโ€™s comments have been followed by statements of disappointment and anger from EBU members at the way the competition is being used for political means by both Ukraine and Russia. Russia was removed from competing in Eurovision 2017 on April 13, after Channel One announced they wouldnโ€™t broadcast the contest.

Channel One and Russia-1 have stated that Yulia Samoilova will represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

Source: Reuters

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