04 April 2017, Tuesday, 20:15 114

Poroshenko: Russia's Decision To Nominate Samoilova As 2017 Eurovision Representative Provocative

Редактор: Daria Zubkova

President Petro Poroshenko believes that Russia's decision to nominate singer Yulia Samoilova as its representative at the 2017 Eurovision international song contest was a provocation and he is happy that she was banned from entering Ukraine.

Poroshenko was speaking at a joint news briefing with the President of Latvia Raimonds Vejonis in Riga, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"Russia did not need to participate in Eurovision, it needed a provocation. I am happy that this provocation was avoided thanks to the effective actions of the Ukrainian authorities," Poroshenko said.

According to him, the Russian authorities knew in advance that Samoilova would not be allowed to enter Ukraine because she violated the procedure for entering the Russia-annexed Crimea.

"It was absolutely clear to the Russian side. The requirements are the same for everyone. The Russian side knew about this, it deliberately made a decision in the hope of a provocation. The Ukrainian authorities avoided this provocation. They act consistently against all those who violate Ukrainian legislation," Poroshenko said.

According to him, Russia was offered other options - from giving Samoilova the opportunity to perform via a video link to the possibility of her replacement by another participant - but the Russian authorities rejected these options.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the Security Service of Ukraine has banned Russia's representative at the 2017 Eurovision song contest Samoilova from entering Ukraine for three years for illegally visiting Crimea.

The semi-finals of the 2017 Eurovision song contest will take place in Kyiv on May 9 and May 11 and the final on May 13.