Ukraine’s former Eurovision winner Jamala says her country can’t afford to boycott the song contest, because it needs to use the occasion to remind the rest of Europe of its invasion by Russia.
Jamala won the competition for Ukraine in 2016, and The Guardian newspaper reports that, while there have been calls for artists to boycott the event over Israel’s inclusion against a background of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, she says this isn’t an option for Ukraine.
“Some countries may refuse to participate [in the contest], but we don’t. Especially we cannot afford to give up such a contest in time of war,” The Guardian reports that Jamala told PA Media. “There are many wars now in the world and, of course, it is not easy to constantly keep attention on yourself so that people do not get tired of our war.
“But that is our task, people who remain in Ukraine, people who are fighting, to be as loud and creative … this is the task of artists to find new ways of how to reveal and show their country.”
This year’s Ukrainian entry spoke to Deadline last week, pledging to donate any prizes or money they made through the Contest to the rebuilding of a school in Ukraine destroyed by a Russian missile.
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest begins on Tuesday in Malmo, Sweden, with the first semi-final. Security in Sweden has been heightened, with extra police officers being drafted in from neighbouring Norway and Denmark, and the terror risk being raised to level four. Huge demonstrations are planned for the week, with protestors claiming Israel should not be included in the Contest.
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