Crimean Tatar Mejlis Chairman calls on Ukrainians to vote for singer of Tatar descent at Eurovision
The Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, has called on Ukrainians to cast their votes in favor of Jamala, a Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar descent, at the Eurovision Song Contest. He posted this on his Facebook page on February 20th, as Krym.Reallii reported.
According to Chubarov, the Russian media as well as media in Moscow-controlled territories, have waged psychological warfare aimed at belittling Jamala.
“Russian chauvinists ranging from unknown people to Russian politicians have reacted in shock and horror at the possibility that a Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar descent, Jamala, can win the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016,” Chubarov stated in his post. He added that Ukrainian citizens living in occupied Crimea will be unable to participate in the voting at the Eurovision national final selection stage.
“My colleagues, as well as my own efforts to ensure that occupied Crimean residents may vote, have failed. The Russian companies that provide telephone connections in Crimea have flatly refused to allow residents to vote. This citizens of Ukraine, people of various nationalities, have asked me on their behalf to seek votes from the mainland Ukrainian residents. They want them to vote for Jamala, who is the undisputed champion among the contestants, at the final selection stage on the 21st of February,” he added.
Chubarov stated that a Jamala victory at Eurovision would be recognition of a high level of musical culture in Ukraine. It would also demonstrate to the world the moral spirit of Ukraine, a political nation that is united against Russian aggression.
Earlier, the People’s Deputy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Presidential Envoy for the Crimean Tatar People, Mustafa Dzhemilev, reported that the prestige of Ukraine and the issue on the Crimean occupation will rise to an unprecedented height if Jamala performs her song entitled "1994" at Eurovision.
The first semi-final of the national selection of this year’s contest was held on the 6th of February and was broadcast on the STB and UA Pershiy TV channels. Jamala received the most SMS votes from viewers which equated to nine points. Over 160,000 Ukrainians voted. Jamala also received the highest judicial score, also nine points.
The next semi-final of the national selection in Ukraine was held on the 13th of February. The artist who will represent Ukraine at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be decided by the results of viewer voting and judicial voting during a live broadcast.