Eurovision with Samoilova and without

Singer Julia Samoilova will represent Russia at the Eurovision International Music Competition in 2018, if Kyiv does not change the decision to not allow it to the territory of Ukraine, where Eurovision will be held -2017.

The fact that Samoilova will nevertheless speak at the competition regardless of the decision of Ukraine, said in a statement by the television company VGTRK and Channel One. “In the event that Ukraine does not allow Yulia Samoilov before participating in Eurovision, next year, regardless of the venue of the competition, Julia Samoilova will represent Russia,” the document says.

The Security Service of Ukraine banned the entry into the country of Yulia Samoilova in connection with her trips to Crimea she made: Samoilova entered the peninsula from the Russian territory, not receiving permission of the Ukrainian authorities, which is considered a violation of Ukrainian laws. This circumstance was known in advance, and the likelihood that the singer would close access to Ukraine was originally estimated as high.

Julia Samoilova performs at the festival in Kerch, 2015 cadre of the video

Earlier, attention to Samoilova, which the Channel One elected by the representative of Russia at the competition was cooked mainly due to the fact that the singer performs in a wheelchair: due to an innate disease, she cannot stand and walk. In connection with this, with the generally negative reaction of Ukrainians to any Russian performer on social networks, it was widely discussed how acceptable the decision of the first channel was from the point of view of morality.

Opinions were expressed, this is pure manipulatory, that the singer can only regret, since she, according to many, in connection with the performance at the competition in Kyiv, threatened a lot of unpleasant moments. Other users of social networks at the same time believed that it was in their own way a shiny move from a political point of view, especially against the background of the scandal with the performance of a disabled dancer on the transfer of the first channel “Minute of Glory”.

After the decision of the SBU of Ukraine, which banned Samoilova’s entry into the country for three years, and the reactions of the first channel to this happened, users of social networks again returned to the topic of Samoilova’s speech.

The issue of permission to enter Samoilova can still be resolved differently, as was done in a different situation, but we can assume that the SBU decision will not be revised. This opinion was expressed in an interview with Polit.ru Georgy Chizhov, Vice President, Head of the Ukrainian Bureau of the Center for Political Technology Foundation.

“It's hard to believe that it was Julia Samoilov to send Russia to the competition that was not political. And, of course, it looks provocative. But this was quite expected: all year after the victory of the Ukrainian singer Jamala at Eurovision -2016, from the Russian side, exclamations such as “Kobzon to go there” and the like were heard. In a word, the idea about the fact that there will be some provocation was in the air.

Jamala at the press conference of the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 Albin Olsson

Of course, if we consider this precisely a provocation, then it was quite thin - due to the personal characteristics of the singer Samoilova. Ukraine was in a rather difficult situation. In chess, this is called “Zugtswang” - a position when any move worsens your position. It turned out that if you let Samoilov into the country, then the protests will inevitably begin, because you will not shut up your mouth. And this will give the grounds for Russian propaganda to say how poorly they met a poor girl. And if you do not let it go, almost the same propaganda can speak from the very beginning.

The Ukrainian leadership faced the question of what to do. Actually, such a issue as Eurovision, in other circumstances, I think, would not be considered the country's leadership, but in this case, in my opinion, the decision was made at the very top. And the pause was quite long, although it was obvious by formal signs from the very beginning that Samoilov was an all-in: she entered the Crimea and left some offensive posts on social networks for Ukraine. And I think that if not for her features, there would have been no conversation at all: no - that’s all.

And so I had to think for a long time. There was a serious public discussion, and society was divided. Of course, no one conducted sociological polls here, but it is obvious that opposite points of view were expressed. One of the options was like this (by the way, he is still not excluded): the SBU confirms the ban on the entrance, but by some special decision, under the pretext, so as not to spoil the competition, Samoilova could allow a one-time entry.

Natasha Koroleva Pavsekaki Bogdanov

Such a decision, however, for a different, personal and sad reason, was made against the singer Natasha Koroleva, when she died in Ukraine, a grandmother living in Ukraine. And although Natasha Koroleva is on the Black List, she was allowed to enter the funeral of her grandmother once. I think this option is still open, since there is still time before Eurovision. Yes, and Julia Samoilova herself mysteriously said that she could still change.

But I have an instinctive feeling that the final decision of Ukraine is still made. The SBU firmly announced the ban on the entrance and, in my opinion, will still not refuse this. Why did this loud ban needed if Samoilov was prohibited? I think to avoid provocation with its failure at the airport. Now, when this ban has sounded loudly, if it nevertheless arrives and tries to go through the border, I think it will definitely be clear from whose side this is a provocation. In this way, Ukraine has protected from an unpleasant situation, ”said Georgy Chizhov.

Kiev is preparing for Eurovision Marco Verch

Similar to a number of points in the point of view, the chairman of the bar of lawyers “Starinsky, Korzhago and partners”, Evgeny Korchago adheres to. Commenting on the situation for Polit.ru, he noted that although the ban was the most anticipated decision, it may be a distracting maneuver.

“The ban on Ukraine to enter the country of the singer Julia Samoilova was quite expected. The fact of her performance in Crimea in 2015 was widely known, so such a reaction of the Ukrainian authorities was only a matter of time. The authorities of Ukraine, being forced to take into account the mood of the radicals, could not simply allow Samoilova to enter the country. The opposite would lead to the fact that opponents of the current leadership of Ukraine would pay attention to this.

However, such a reaction of the authorities can be only a cover designed to demonstrate their position for domestic consumption. In this case, Samoilova will be allowed to enter in the near future indicating the exceptional circumstances of such a decision, ”he commented on the situation.