The Swedish brand and chocolate manufacturer Marabou, which is one of Melodifestivalen's main sponsors, has been part of the Mondelēz International group since 1993.
In March last year, Mondelēz announced that "non-essential activities" between Russia and the company would cease.
But Mondelēz still continues to have a large part of its operations in Russia.
"However, we have liquidated all new capital investments and advertising media in Russia", they write in an email to Kulturnyheterna.
SVT was not aware that Marabou's parent company is the market leader in Russia in confectionery.
- This is new information that we have now found out, it is a completely new situation, says Ebba Adielsson, responsible publisher and program manager at SVT Nöje.
"Will put us in the situation"
The Melodifestivalen program and the competition are financed by SVT with its own funds.
It is when the festival is on tour that the audience events are sponsored by companies.
There, the event company Live Nation has the main responsibility.
- We have a policy regarding our sponsorship collaborations.
But right now, Marabou does not conflict with that policy, says Ebba Adielsson.
- We will have to familiarize ourselves with the situation more and find out the new information that has come to us.
And see how we need to – and if we need to – act on it.
Does not affect journalism
The Journalists' Association believes that it is important to have watertight seals between journalists and advertising collaborations, but they do not see that Melodifestivalen's sponsorship agreement needs to affect journalism within SVT.
On the other hand, Ulrika Hyllert, president of the Journalists' Association, believes that media houses have a responsibility to act ethically.
- It is important that you have guidelines and make ethical considerations for the collaborations you have, this applies to all media companies.
Then I think you can place extra high demands on public service in particular, she tells Kulturnyheterna.