The organizers of the event were concerned that Zelensky's address to the 160mn audience in support of Ukraine could bring politics into the competition, Meduza reports.
The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to be non-political, and the rules prohibit any political or other statements during the event. Although Zelensky's request to speak to the Eurovision audience was made with good intentions, the leadership of the European Broadcasting Union could not allow it, according to an organizer's representative quoted by The Times.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, criticized the decision to ban Zelensky's speech, saying that it was unnecessary and that Zelensky would have made a great competitor in this year's Eurovision.
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