The European Broadcasting Union confirmed to Ukraine's Eurovision withdrawal. Last Saturday, we focused on Ukraine's national selection 'Vidbir'. At the live Show Jamala ( one of the jury members, also won the Eurovision 2016 with the song 1944 ) asked some political questions to contestants.
Jamala asked 'very very uncomfortable question' to Maruv.
And Jamala also asked to Anna Maria about their parents relationship with Russia
After that, 'Maruv' won the Vidbir with total points of televote and jury votes. ' Freedem Jazz' came second and 'Kazka' came third.
But this was not the end. The public broadcaster and the singer MARUV, who won the national election for Eurovision , did not agree on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 for a number of reasons.
The Ukrainian broadcaster contacted the runner-ups of Vidbir 2019, the band Freedom Jazz, but they have also decided to refuse the offer to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2019.
The next on the list, the group Kazka, also rejected the contract to go to Eurovision.
Finally, Ukraine have decided to withdraw from Eurovision 2019. EBU said that about withraw :
“Each participating broadcaster is responsible for the selection of their act for the Eurovision Song Contest in accordance to the rules set out by the European Broadcasting Union. It is with sadness that the EBU can confirm that Ukraine’s broadcaster UA:PBC has informed the EBU that, following further discussions, they have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. There will be further discussions between the EBU and UA:PBC on this matter but we hope to see them again in 2020. However, for now, we look forward to what is already shaping up to be a fantastic event in Tel Aviv in May.”
And also Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC also released a statement, which mentions:
“The National Selection-2019 revealed and attracted the attention of our society to the systemic problem of the music industry in Ukraine: the connections of artists from the show business in the territory of the aggressor state, which are still very close at the 5th year of the military conflict. For a part of society, this fact is acceptable, in the other part it causes indignation and rejection.
The laws of Ukraine do not propose any restrictions on the work of performers and artists on the territory of the Russian Federation despite the large public request to resolve this situation.
In the current situation, following the Law on Public Broadcasting, as well as in conditions of excessive politicization of the national selection process, the Public Broadcasting Company decided to refuse to participate in the International Song Contest Eurovision-2019.”
Source : EBU