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Eurovision Song Contest organizers reversed course on Friday, announcing that Russia would not be allowed to perform at this year’s event.
“The decision reflects concerns that, given the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, including Russia’s entry in this year’s Contest would damage its reputation,” the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said in a statement.
The decision to culturally punish Russia for invading Ukraine came a day after the same group said Moscow would be allowed to send acts to perform at the next Eurovision, scheduled to be held in Turin, Italy, in May.
Ukraine’s public broadcasting company called for Russia to be suspended from the popular contest, which is watched by nearly 200 million people a year.
But the EBU, which has organized the contest since 1956, has emphasized Eurovision as a “non-political cultural event.”
In response, several other European countries have said they will not participate in this year’s event unless Russia is banned.
Russia has not officially announced its act for this year’s competition. Since the attack in Ukraine, thousands of Russians have dared to risk arrest to protest against the government’s deadly invasion.
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