The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine has stated that the EBU’s proposed satellite feed breaks Ukrainian law regarding persona non grata.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko has responded to this afternoon’s proposal by the European Broadcasting Union, to allowe a satellite link to be created so that Julia Samoilova can compete in Eurovision 2017 for Russia. The Deputy Prime Minister Tweeted that broadcasts containing individuals who are banned from Ukraine are not legal within Ukraine and as a result the EBU’s proposal would violate Ukrainian law. The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated his call from yesterday, in which he stated that Russia will be welcome in the contest if the select another artist who does not violate Ukrainian laws.

The European Broadcasting Union released a statement this afternoon stating that:

The EBU has been working hard to find a solution to this situation and has taken the unprecedented move to offer Channel One Russia the opportunity for Julia to still participate in this year’s Contest by performing live in the 2nd Semi Final via satellite. Should the Russian entry qualify for the Grand Final the same solution would apply.

The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Jon Ola Sand added:

It is imperative that the Eurovision Song Contest remains free from politics and as such, due to the circumstances surrounding Julia’s travel ban, we have felt it important to propose a solution that transcends such issues.

Yesterday the Ukrainian Security Agency ruled that Yulia cannot enter Ukraine for the next three years. The decision was taken following a performance in 2015 by the singer in Kerch, Crimea. Channel One the broadcaster in charge of Russian participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 has not yet responded publicly to the European Broadcasting Union’s offer. In the 62 year history of the Eurovision Song Contest, a host nation has never banned another country’s participant from attending the event.

Source: Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine