Russian Duma demands that Eurovision ban performance of song by representative of Ukraine
The State Duma of the Russian Federation urges the leadership of Eurovision to prohibit Ukrainian singer Jamala from participating in their contest with a song about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, Russian media reported.
According to the Russian website Ekho Moskvii, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Vadim Dengin, said that this song is being used to "offend Russia once again."
The Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, said that the Russian media, as well as media controlled by Moscow on the territories of other states, "has started a real psychological war aimed at belittling Jamala."
Crimean native, Jamala, won the national selection for Eurovision 2016 with the song "1944", which is about the tragedy of the Crimean Tatar people. The singer received the most votes from viewers by SMS voting. In total, 382.5 thousand people voted.
The residents of the annexed Crimea were unable to participate in SMS voting because Ukrainian mobile operators don't work on the peninsula.
Press Secretary of the President of Ukraine, Svyatoslav Tsegolko, said that Jamala's song "1944", through Eurovision, might remind the world about the crimes against the Crimean Tatar people.
The last time Ukraine hosted Eurovision was in 2005. However, the victory was brought home in 2004 by Ruslana when she was also awarded the title of People's Artist of Ukraine.