Joseph Kobzon
Every Russian should decide to watch or not watch the broadcast of the music competition “Eurovision” which will take place this year in Kiev, said the first Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on culture, singer Iosif Kobzon. This opinion was expressed to RIA Novosti on Wednesday, March 1.
So the MP commented on the call by Deputy Vitaly Milonov to the General Director of channel one Konstantin Ernst to refuse to broadcast “Eurovision”. However, he supported the idea of colleagues to refuse to participate in the contest. “I agree that we did not participate in “Eurovision”, not to give the opportunity to rusofobstvo in Ukraine”, — said Kobzon.
Prior to 1 March it was reported that Milonov has appealed to the Director of the First channel with a request to boycott international music competition, including to abandon his broadcast. “The participation of our artists in this competition is unacceptable in any form. Impossible to imagine that Soviet citizens in 1943 went on a conditional music contest “Rahoveanu”!” — said the people’s choice.
On 17 February, the Deputy of the state Duma Oleg Nilov proposed to send on “Eurovision-2017” Joseph Kobzon, and also the Alexandrov choir. He stressed that the competition, the beginning of which is scheduled for may 9 — Victory Day, “when trying known force could turn into Orgy”.
In the same month, the singer Philip Kirkorov in interview kp.ru called for a boycott of “Eurovision”.
Ukraine won the right to host “Eurovision-2017” after singer Jamal with a song “1944” won in the competition in 2016 (held in Stockholm). Dates of semi — finals on may 9 and may 11, the final will take place on may 13.