Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

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

Russia was scheduled to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. However, on 25 February 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) excluded Russia from participating.[1] Russia was originally set to perform in the second half of the first semi-final on 10 May 2022.[2]

Background[edit]

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. In 2016, Russia finished third with the song "You Are the Only One" performed by Sergey Lazarev, who would later return to represent his country again in 2019 with the song "Scream", also finishing in third place. In 2018, Russia placed fifteenth in the second semi-final with the song "I Won't Break" performed by Yuliya Samoylova, making it the first time Russia did not qualify for the final since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004.[3] In 2021, "Russian Woman" performed by Manizha qualified for the final and ultimately finished ninth with 204 points.[4]

Before Eurovision[edit]

Artist selection[edit]

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, Danya Milokhin, Egor Kreed, Vanya Dmitrienko, Klava Koka and Yaroslava Simonova.[5][6][7] 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.[8] Ultimately, Yaroslava Simonova was reportedly selected as the Russian representative.[9][10][11]

Calls for exclusion[edit]

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, 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 had been a mouthpiece for the Russian government and a key tool of political propaganda financed from the Russian state budget.[12] 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.[13][14] Gustav Lützhøft, editor-in-chief of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix for Danish broadcaster DR, stated: "we find it incompatible with Eurovision's values that Russia is participating."[15][16][17] Sweden's SVT,[18] Iceland's RÚV,[19] Lithuania's LRT[20] and Norway's NRK[21] also called on the EBU to exclude Russia from the contest, while the Netherlands' AVROTROS,[22] Poland's TVP[23] and Ukraine's UA:PBC[24] additionally called on the EBU to suspend Russia's membership of the union. Estonia's ERR[25] and Finland's Yle[26] stated that they would not participate if Russia were 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.[27]

Exclusion[edit]

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 following day, all EBU members from Russia, including VGTRK and Channel One, announced their withdrawal from the union; however, the EBU itself had yet to receive a confirmation.[28][29] On 1 March, a further statement from the EBU announced that it had suspended its Russian members from its governance structures.[30]

After Eurovision[edit]

On 26 May 2022, the EBU made effective the suspension of its Russian members, causing Russia to indefinitely lose broadcasting and participation rights for future Eurovision events.[31][32]

Russia's exclusion as an example of historical precedence[edit]

Main article: Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 § Calls for exclusion

The humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip led to calls for the EBU to exclude Israel from taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[33][34] The EBU's decision to maintain Israel as a participant was compared to its decision to exclude Russia in 2022, with some accusing the EBU of "hypocrisy" and exhibiting "double standards".[a] On 12 December 2023, the Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland (FTT) and activists of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, joined by the Icelandic branch of OGAE, sent formal requests that the Icelandic broadcaster RÚV withdraw from the event unless Israel was excluded "on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition";[37][42][43][44] meanwhile, a week later, Finnish broadcaster Yle commented that the war was not comparable to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[45] In early March 2024, Walloon minister of culture and media Bénédicte Linard [fr; nl] announced that she would formally request local broadcaster RTBF (responsible for Belgium's participation in 2024) to push for the exclusion of Israel from the contest, citing – among others – the exclusion of Russia in 2022; her Flemish counterpart Benjamin Dalle expressed support for the reasoning.[46][38]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

References[edit]

  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. ^ "Eurovision 2022: Which Semi-Final is your country performing in? 🇮🇹". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Russia". EBU. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. ^ Названы кандидаты на участие в «Евровидении-2022» от России. Kulturomania.ru (in Russian). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  6. ^ Почему Клава Кока может поехать на Евровидение 2022. KP.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (26 February 2022). "Russia: Slavia Simonova would represent the country at Eurovision 2022!". Eurovision Fun. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Россию на Евровидении должна была представить незрячая певица Ярослава Симонова". super.ru (in Russian). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. ^ Arnoldova, Yelena (28 February 2022). "Россию на "Евровидении" могла представить незрячая певица". gazeta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Ярослава Симонова должна была представить Россию на "Евровидении"". kulturomania.ru (in Russian). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Green, Alex (24 February 2022). "Russia can compete in Eurovision despite Ukraine invasion, organisers say". The Independent. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  14. ^ Wyser, Daniel (24 February 2022). "Trots krigshandling – Ryssland välkomnas fortfarande till ESC". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. ^ Ellegaard, Christian (25 February 2022). "Flere lande vil smide Rusland ud af Eurovision: 'Meget forkert, hvis de får lov at deltage'". dr.dk (in Danish). DR. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  16. ^ Bay Madsen, Nanna (24 February 2022). "DR i modangreb: Rusland skal UD!". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Granger, Anthony (24 February 2022). "🇸🇪 Sweden: SVT Calls on EBU to Rethink Whether Russia Should Compete in Eurovision". Eurovoix. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  19. ^ Þór Guðmundsson, Brynjólfur (25 February 2022). "Vilja Rússa úr Eurovision" (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  20. ^ "LRT ragina šalinti Rusiją iš "Eurovizijos", stebėti kanalų turinį dėl vėlesnių priemonių". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). LRT. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  21. ^ Svelstad, Oda Elise (25 February 2022). "NRK vil ikke at Russland skal delta i Eurovision". nrk.no (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Statement AVROTROS - Eurovisie Songfestival". avrotros.nl (in Dutch). AVROTROS. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Oświadczenie polskich nadawców publicznych w sprawie sytuacji na Ukrainie". centruminformacji.tvp.pl (Press release). Telewizja Polska S.A. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  24. ^ Granger, Anthony (24 February 2022). "Suspilne Requests The Suspension of Russian Broadcasters EBU Membership". Eurovoix.
  25. ^ Kaldoja, Kerttu (25 February 2022). "Eesti osalemine Eurovisioonil sõltub Venemaa osalusest" (in Estonian). ERR. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Yle vetoaa Euroopan yleisradiounioniin Venäjän sulkemiseksi pois Euroviisuista". yle.fi (Press release) (in Finnish). Yleisradio. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  27. ^ Granger, Anthony (24 February 2022). "🇱🇻 Latvia: Citi Zēni Call on EBU to Reconsider Russia's Participation in Eurovision 2022". Eurovoix. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  28. ^ "ВГТРК, Первый канал и Радиодом "Останкино" выходят из ЕВС" [All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Channel One and Ostankino Radio House withdraw from the EBU]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 26 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  29. ^ "EBU Statement on RTR, Channel One and Radio House Ostankino membership". ebu.ch. EBU. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  30. ^ "EBU Statement on Russian Members". ebu.ch. EBU. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  31. ^ Vidal, Fernando Nicolás (26 May 2022). "La UER hace efectiva la suspensión indefinida a sus miembros rusos". ESCplus España (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Європейська мовна спілка призупинила членство російських ЗМІ" [The European Broadcasting Union has suspended membership of the Russian media]. suspilne.media (Press release) (in Ukrainian). UA:PBC. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  33. ^ Asido, Shahar (19 November 2023). "מה יעלה בגורלה של ישראל באירוויזיון?" [What will happen to Israel in Eurovision?]. EuroMix (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  34. ^ a b Marshall, Alex; Sella, Adam (7 February 2024). "Israel Chooses a Eurovision Act as Boycott Campaigns Swirl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  35. ^ Deridder, Isabelle (8 December 2023). "'Wij zijn een niet-politiek evenement': Israël blijft welkom op Songfestival, ook al werd Rusland wél geweerd" ["We are a non-political event": Israel remains welcome at the Eurovision Song Contest, even though Russia was banned]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  36. ^ Skovlund Asmussen, Birgitte (25 January 2024). "DR har ikke planer om at boykotte Eurovision, selvom Israel deltager" [DR has no plans to boycott Eurovision, even if Israel participates]. dr.dk (in Danish). DR. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  37. ^ a b Hrólfsson, Ragnar Jón (12 December 2023). "FTT skorar á RÚV að sniðganga Eurovision ef Ísrael verður með" [FTT calls on RÚV to boycott Eurovision if Israel participates]. ruv.is (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  38. ^ a b Van Campenhout, Charlotte (7 March 2024). "Israel should be dropped from Eurovision if Gaza war continues, say Belgian ministers". Reuters. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  39. ^ Oltermann, Philip (29 January 2024). "Swedish music stars call for Israel Eurovision ban over Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  40. ^ Keskin, Buse (8 February 2024). "Eurovision double standard? Russia excluded, Israel boycott ignored". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  41. ^ Shankar, Priyanka (6 February 2024). "Israel should be disqualified from Eurovision 2024: European politicians". Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  42. ^ Kristjánsson, Alexander; Signýjardóttir, Ástrós (18 December 2023). "Útvarpsstjóri tók við 9.000 undirskriftum um sniðgöngu í Eurovision" [Radio director received 9,000 signatures to boycott Eurovision]. ruv.is (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  43. ^ Dahan, Tal (18 December 2023). "פעילי BDS הפגינו מול משרדי רשת הטלוויזיה האיסלנדית נגד השתתפות ישראל באירוויזיון" [BDS activists demonstrated in front of the offices of the Icelandic television network against Israel's participation in Eurovision]. EuroMix (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  44. ^ Kristjánsson, Alexander (23 December 2023). "FÁSES skorar á RÚV að senda ekki lag í Eurovision" [FÁSES challenges RÚV not to send a song to Eurovision]. ruv.is (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  45. ^ Tiikkaja, Samuli (19 December 2023). "Euroviisut | Suomea vaaditaan vetäytymään Euroviisuista Israelin takia, kertoo Ylen johtaja" [Finland is being asked to withdraw from Eurovision because of Israel, says Yle's manager]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  46. ^ Noulet, Jean-François; Hermans, R. (6 March 2024). "Bénédicte Linard (Ecolo), ministre de la Culture et des Médias, souhaite exclure Israël du concours Eurovision" [Bénédicte Linard (Ecolo), minister of Culture and Media, wishes to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest]. RTBF Actus (in French). RTBF. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
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