The alternative way to determine the representative from Ukraine to the Eurovision 2019 according to the rules, could have been direct appointment by the broadcaster. That is, the Public Broadcasting Company could elect any performer not from the list of participants in the National Selection.

However, the Public Broadcaster refuses to use this option, because it respects the choice of the audience in the National Selection. Therefore, in the situation of non-signing of the contract on the participation in the Eurovision with the winner Public Broadcaster contacted the finalists who have finished second and third in the national final.



Freedom Jazz and KAZKA also refused to participate at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

The song contest is an opportunity for every country to showcase itself in the international arena, and for each performer to act as the ambassador of their country and to win the supporters around the world.



But 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 with the show business on 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 and for the other 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 Broadcaster has decided to withdraw from the participation in the International Eurovision Song Contest 2019.

The Public Broadcaster considers it necessary to initiate a public dialogue in the format of talk shows, forums and discussions with the participation of leading experts in the field to formulate the position of the Ukrainian society on this issue, as well as the development of proposals for a draft law of Ukraine that could regulate the situation with the cooperation of Ukrainian artists with the state-aggressor for the future.