‘Cynical and inhumane’: tensions spike as Ukraine bans Russian singer from Eurovision Song Contest
Russia’s participation in the Kiev contest in May is fraught with political tensions as the two ex-Soviet neighbours have been locked in a bitter feud since Moscow annexed Crimea in March 2014
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine spread to the Eurovision Song Contest on Wednesday after Kiev banned a Russian contestant from entering the country over a past performance in Moscow-annexed Crimea.
Ukrainian security service (SBU) spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska said Yuliya Samoilova had been banned “from entry for three years” for having been “in violation of Ukrainian legislation”.
The move infuriated Moscow, which rebuked Kiev for banning the wheelchair using singer.
“This is yet another outrageous, cynical and inhumane act by the Kiev authorities,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told the Interfax news agency.
This is yet another outrageous, cynical and inhumane act by the Kiev authorities
The Eurovision organisers voiced disappointment at Ukraine’s ban on the Russian singer.
Samoilova, 27, performed at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, as well as at a gala concert in Crimea aimed at popularising sport in June 2015.