OGAE Ukraine, the Ukrainian branch of the official Eurovision fan club OGAE, has called for OGAE Russia to be removed from the OGAE International network.
A day after OGAE Russia was revealed as one of the clubs participating in the OGAE Song Contest 2022, OGAE Russia has called for the club to be banned from all international activities, including the OGAE Song Contest and have stated that they will withdraw if OGAE Russia is still allowed to compete. In a statement released on their official social media pages, OGAE Ukraine stated:
“OGAE Ukraine appeals to the international community of fans of the Eurovision Song Contest with a a request to remove OGAE Russia from participating in OGAE International activities and events (including the OGAE Song Contest 2022) due to official support of their government actions published on the website escrus.org on 26/02/22.
We consider the further participation of OGAE Russia in any activities of the Eurofan community as contrary to the principles of OGAE International and common sense.”
OGAE Russia are due to be represented in this year’s contest by Leonid Agutin and Vladimir Presnyakov with the song “DNK”. OGAE International has yet to respond to this appeal.
Shortly before this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, UA:PBC and several other broadcasters publicly called for Russia to be excluded from the contest after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The EBU then excluded Russia from competing, to which Russia responded by withdrawing all of their members from the EBU.
Image Source: EBU / Eurovision.tv | Source: OGAE Ukraine
