Ukraine in hot, expensive water over Eurovision

Although the Eurovision Song Contest has come and gone from Kiev, Ukraine is still feeling its effects: the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced today that the country faces a large fine for organisational delays and its behaviour regarding barred Russian contestant, Yulia Samoylova.

According to a statement by the EBU, delays in organising the contest and failure to cooperate with the EBU over Ms Samoylova’s participation meant that “attention was drawn away from the competition and the brand reputation of the Eurovision Song Contest was endangered”.

Omitting to specify the amount, the statement indicates that Ukraine’s national broadcaster will receive “a substantial fine, in line with the rules of the competition”.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest took place on 13 May in Kiev. Ms Samoylova was unable to represent Russia at the contest after being barred from entering Ukraine over an “illegal” visit to the annexed Crimean peninsula in 2015.

Update: the fine amounts to 200,000 euros ($228,000).

Source: Reuters