The Armenian delegation to Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm, (Sweden).

That year, Iveta Moukouchian (center, bodysuit) was placed seventh.

-

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP

Armenia will not participate in Eurovision 2021. AMPTV, the Armenian public service, announced on Friday its withdrawal from the next competition, justifying it by "recent events and the short production deadline, among other objective reasons.

"

In November, Armenia withdrew at the last moment of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest because of the conflict between it and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh.

After careful and detailed discussions, the #ArmPublicTV decided to withdraw from the @Eurovision 2021, considering the latest events, the shortness of production time as well as other objective reasons that make the proper participation of Armenia at ESC2021 impossible.

pic.twitter.com/NEoxwlnHi3

- Armenian Public TV (@ArmPublicTV) March 5, 2021

In a statement, Martin Österdahl, the executive producer of the music competition, said the organization "understands the reasons for this withdrawal" and hopes that Armenia will return in the 2022 edition.

A withdrawal in 2012

Armenia has participated in Eurovision since 2006 and since then it has only missed one edition, that of 2012 organized in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.

Tensions between the two countries were regularly reflected during the competition.

The candidate songs for Eurovision 2021, must be formalized by mid-March, last deadline.

Forty countries will be in contention next May in Rotterdam (Netherlands).

According to the latest news, the organization plans that all candidate artists can make the trip.

A strict health protocol will be put in place and the number of accredited journalists reduced from 1,000 to 500. It is not yet clear whether the public will be able to attend the event in the Ahoy Arena.

Culture

Cyprus song for Eurovision 2021 accused of "praising Satan"

Culture

Eurovision 2021 will take place at best with physical distancing

  • Armenia

  • Karabakh

  • Eurovision

  • Eurovision behind the scenes

  • Culture