"Absolutely exceptional fears": Eurovision organizers will suspend the participation of Belarus in the competition

Game version: "In Defense of Independent Journalism"

On 28 May, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) hosted a meeting of the members of the Executive Board.

As a result of the event, the heads of the organization decided to suspend the membership of the Belarusian broadcaster Belteleradiocompany (BTRK) in the near future.

As follows from the press service on the official website of the European Broadcasting Union, the EBU monitored the state of the media in the country and called on the BTRK to adhere to the key values ​​of the union - freedom of speech, accountability and independence.

“Since the controversial elections last summer, we have campaigned for independent journalism and free speech in the country.

We publicly support BTRK journalists who oppose government interference.

We also monitor the coverage of Belteleradiocompany and bring our concerns to the attention of its management, ”the message says.

In addition, the EBU accused the BTRK of “broadcasting interviews, which appear to have been under pressure,” in recent weeks.

According to the EBU's management, the broadcaster's various materials presented on the air "caused other serious and completely exceptional concerns."

“In light of these extraordinary events, the Executive Council has no choice but to propose to suspend the membership of the BTRK in the EBU.

The BTRK will have two weeks to respond before the suspension comes into force, ”summed up the leadership of the European Broadcasting Union.

The uneasy relationship between the EBU and Belteleradiocompany manifests itself primarily in connection with the country's participation in Eurovision, which is organized by the European Broadcasting Union.

Back in February 2021, Swedish MEP Karin Karlsbro appealed to the EBU to exclude the Belarusian broadcaster from the organization and thus prohibit the country's representatives from participating in the competition.

According to Carlsbro, "The state TV channel BTRK, which usually broadcasts Eurovision in Belarus, took an active part in the state repression faced by Belarusians."

She also noted that the head of the BTRK Ivan Eismont was included in the EU sanctions list in 2020.

The MP initiated the collection of signatures in the European Parliament to apply to the EBU.

She also advocated for the European media to end cooperation with the BTRK.

Nevertheless, the leadership of the European Broadcasting Union at that time emphasized that it distances itself from participation in political events.

A few weeks later it became known that the Galasy 3Mesta group was chosen from Belarus to participate in the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with the song I will teach you, but on March 11, the European Broadcasting Union announced that the composition could not be performed on stage due to inconsistency with the rules of the show. The organization said in a statement that the song casts doubt on the non-political nature of the competition and could undermine its reputation.

The artists were asked to correct the text of the composition or replace it.

Later, Belteleradiocompany, which is responsible for the country's participation in Eurovision, presented a new song, however, the European Broadcasting Union did not allow it to participate in the competition.

At the end of March, it became known about the decision of the organizers of the competition to remove Belarus from the competition in 2021, since the deadlines for the provision of competitive tracks were out.

Statement from the @EBU_HQ regarding Belarus and the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.https: //t.co/qvmyjxqAq4pic.twitter.com/2Au8HKb1Ad

- Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 26, 2021

Belarusian musicians have been participating in Eurovision since 2004.

For the first time the country was represented by the pop duet "Alexandra and Constantine" with the song My Galileo.

According to the results of the semifinals, the artists took 19th place and did not enter the final.

Also unlucky for the participants in the next two contests - Angelica Agurbash and Polina Smolova.

The first finalist from Belarus was the winner of the "Star Factory - 6" project Dmitry Koldun.

The composition Work Your Magic brought him sixth place in the competition.

This result turned out to be the highest for Belarusian artists in the entire history of Eurovision.

In subsequent years, Ruslan Alekhno, Nikita Alekseev, Teo, the 3 + 2 collective and other musicians were sent to the competition from the country.