Eurovision accused of succumbing to 'information campaign' against Russia

SBS World News Radio: There's been criticism out of Russia in response to Ukraine's victory in the European Song Contest.

Eurovision juries accused of succumbing to 'information campaign' against Russia

Eurovision juries accused of succumbing to 'information campaign' against Russia

There's been criticism out of Russia in response to Ukraine's victory in the European Song Contest.

The winning song of the 61st festival makes reference to the World War Two Soviet deportation of Crimean Tartars.

Eurovision winner Jamala arrived home in Ukraine's capital Kiev to a hero's welcome.

Hundreds of people cheered her victory as she got off the plane.

The singer overtook the bookmakers' favourites, Russia, to take out the glitzy title.

Jamala said she was overwhelmed and shocked to win.

"I think it's a big opportunity for us and at the same time it's a huge responsibility, because Europe trusted us."

Jamala only just won that "trust".

She beat Australian singer Dami Im -- putting Russia in third place -- with this song called "1944".

The song is said to be about what happened when Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the deportation of Crimean Tartars to central Asia during the Second World War.

Thousands are believed to have died during the gruelling journey.

Jamala is of Crimean Tatar descent.

In the lead up to the Eurovision Song Contest, Jamala has spoken about Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

She's also quoted in the media as saying her entry speaks also of the territory's more recent history.

Her fans say they hope times will change.

(Translated)"She passed on all the pain which our people feel, she showed it to the whole world and that is why we won. And this means that we will overcome all problems which are ahead of us."

But Ukraine's win was met with anger from within Russia.

Live on Russian TV, there were fixing accusations.

Russia won the popular vote, but not the jurors' support.

Studio guests claimed bookmakers' favourite Sergei Lazarev was the victim of political voting.

In Moscow, some politicians are claiming Russia's defeat is part of a Western campaign against the country.

There are even suggestions of boycotting next year's competition in Ukraine.

Russian MP Elena Drapeko believes there's an information war being waged against Russia that has now spread to Eurovision.

(Translated)"The jurors were influenced by an information campaign against Russia that claims everything in Russia is bad. That all sportsman take doping and that Russians are aggressive."

Accusations of vote rigging and bribery are not new to Eurovision..

Guilty countries can face bans of up to three years.

But Russia pulled out all the stops for a win this year -- if it takes part next year and relations with Ukraine remain tense, Kiev won't be an easy stage.

 

 


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3 min read
Published 16 May 2016 11:00pm
Updated 16 May 2016 11:02pm
By Alyshia Gates


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