Participant of “Eurovision-2017” from the Russian Federation Yulia Samoylova
Photo:
Russian Newspaper
“With regard to the politicization of Eurovision, I probably would have refrained from any comments, – said the press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov. “Definitely, of course, wish to avoid any politicization of “Eurovision”, – he added. – We consider this completely unacceptable from the point of view of prospects of development of this international competition”.
“I would not began to use such words as “provocation”, a Russian TV channel that directs to the participant. Therefore nothing is provocative, we do not see”, – said Peskov. “In Crimea there were all, practically, probably not the people who have never been in the Crimea, – he said. This is the first. Second – it’s still international competition and the country-the organizer of the contest should follow the rules by which this contest is held”.
Samoilova participated in the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014. Julia from childhood wheelchair. She also participated in the concert in the Crimea, and the Ukrainian side calls into question the possibility of her participation in the Eurovision song contest on-site.
Asked to comment on statements by the Verkhovna Rada Deputy Anton Gerashchenko, who, as reported in the media, said that Ukraine can not let Samoylova in Kiev, if she is going to make political statements in support of the Crimea, the press Secretary of the President said: “It’s still not the Kremlin, not the Kremlin directs contestants to the Eurovision song contest”.
“I think some hypothetical, eventual reasoning is hardly relevant here – “but if that happens, then what will happen?”. After all the contestants go there to sing, not make political statements,” concluded Sands.