Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Country Russia
Finals performance
Semi-final resultDisqualified
Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2021 • 2022

Russia was set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. However, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) excluded Russia from participating.[1]

Background[]

Main article: Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2022 contest, Russia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 23 times since its first entry in 1994. Russia has won the contest on one occasion in 2008 with the song "Believe" performed by Dima Bilan.[2] In 2021, "Russian Woman" performed by Manizha qualified for the final and ultimately finished ninth with 204 points.

Before Eurovision[]

Artist selection[]

No official announcement was made by national broadcaster VGTRK regarding the Russian selection for 2022. According to non-confirmed rumors, shortlisted acts included Aleksandr Panayotov,  [ru], Egor Kreed, Vanya Dmitrienko, Klava Koka and Yaroslava Simonova.[3][4][5] Later, the number of artists on the shortlist was reduced to three: two women (Klava Koka, Yaroslava Simonova) and one man, among whom VGTRK selected a representative.[6] Ultimately, Yaroslava Simonova was reportedly selected as the Russian representative.[7][8][9]

Exclusion[]

In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February, Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC appealed to suspend Russian EBU member broadcasters VGTRK and Channel One from the union, and to exclude Russia from competing in the contest. The appeal alleged that since the beginning of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014, VGTRK and Channel One have been a mouthpiece for the Russian government and a key tool of political propaganda financed from the Russian state budget.[10] The EBU initially stated that Russia as well as Ukraine would still be allowed to participate in the contest, citing the non-political nature of the event.[11][12]

According to Gustav Lützhøft, editor-in-chief of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, "we find it incompatible with Eurovision's values that Russia is participating."[13][14] Sweden's SVT,[15] Iceland's RÚV,[16] Lithuania's LRT[17] and Norway's NRK[18] also called on the EBU to exclude Russia from the contest, while the Netherlands' AVROTROS,[19] Poland's TVP[20] and Ukraine's UA:PBC[21] additionally called on the EBU to suspend Russia's membership of the union. Estonia's ERR[22] and Finland's Yle[23] stated that they would not participate if Russia is invited. Latvian representatives at the 2022 contest, Citi Zēni, called on the EBU in an email to reconsider their decision to allow Russia to compete.[24]

On 25 February 2022, the EBU announced that Russia would not compete at the contest, stating 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."[1] The day after, all EBU members from Russia, including VGTRK and Channel One, announced their withdrawal from the union, according to a statement released by Russian state media.[25]

Russia was originally set to perform in the second half of the first semi-final on 10 May 2022.[26]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022". Eurovision.tv. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Russia". EBU. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ^ Названы кандидаты на участие в «Евровидении-2022» от России. Kulturomania.ru (in Russian). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. ^ Почему Клава Кока может поехать на Евровидение 2022. KP.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  5. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (26 February 2022). "Russia: Slavia Simonova would represent the country at Eurovision 2022!". Eurovision Fun. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (22 February 2022). "Russia: Three artists for the final selection | Dream Team's participation is in doubt | EXCLUSIVE". EurovisionFun. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Россию на Евровидении должна была представить незрячая певица Ярослава Симонова". super.ru (in Russian). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. ^ Arnoldova, Yelena (28 February 2022). "Россию на «Евровидении» могла представить незрячая певица". gazeta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Ярослава Симонова должна была представить Россию на «Евровидении»". kulturomania.ru (in Russian). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Суспільне вимагає припинити членство російських ЗМІ у ЄМС" [Suspilne demands the termination of the membership of the Russian media in the EBU]. suspilne.media (Press release) (in Ukrainian). UA:PBC. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  11. ^ Green, Alex (24 February 2022). "Russia can compete in Eurovision despite Ukraine invasion, organisers say". The Independent. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  12. ^ Wyser, Daniel (24 February 2022). "Trots krigshandling – Ryssland välkomnas fortfarande till ESC". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  13. ^ Bay Madsen, Nanna (24 February 2022). "DR i modangreb: Rusland skal UD!". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ Maude, James (24 February 2022). "Citi Zeni, The Roop, the Danish Broadcaster and More Respond to EBU's Russia Eurovision 2022 Participation Stance". ESCUnited. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. ^ Granger, Anthony (24 February 2022). "