National Public Television and Radio Company of Ukraine (NSTU) that is the broadcaster that stages the 2017 Eurovision contest in Kyiv has said Russia is seeking to build a negative media atmosphere surrounding the song contest.
“The NSTU is continuing active preparations for the 2017 Eurovision in close cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union,” the broadcaster said in an official statement on April 14.
The NSTU emphasized that “the refusal by the Channel One (Russia) to broadcast the Eurovision evidences that the Russian side’s primary objective was not taking part but creating a negative media atmosphere around the work on preparing and holding the contest”.
The NSTU recalled that it had formally notified the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) about the Ukrainian Security Service banning entry into Ukraine for Russia’s contestant Yulia Samoilova. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly suggested that Russia should send to Kyiv someone who hasn’t violated Ukrainian laws. However, the Russian side left its decision as it was.
The EBU said earlier that Russia would not be able to take part in the 2017 Eurovision contest.
