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Ukraine May Ban Russian Contestant from Eurovision 2017

By Nazrin Gadimova March 17, 2017

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27-years-old Julia was chosen to represent Russia with the ‘Flame Is Burning’ song in the Eurovision Song Contest, which will run on May 9-13. / Maksim Lee / Channel One Russia

On Monday the Security Service of Ukraine announced it might bar Russian singer Julia Samoylova from entering the country, preventing her from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Kiev in May, due to her 2015 visit to and performance in Crimea.

“We don’t want this to be a politically biased decision,” said Olena Gitlyanska, a spokesperson for the Security Service, in a statement posted to her Facebook page. “The check may take about a month.”

Crimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea that was unilaterally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. According to Ukrainian law entering Crimea via Russia is illegal.

Ukrainian parliamentarian Anton Gerashchenko reacted to the news by saying Samoylova should be allowed to enter Ukraine, but at the same time be held accountable “for violation of the state border.”

Samoylova was chosen on March 12 to represent Russia in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Flame Is Burning.”

Samoylova began losing function of her legs during childhood due to spinal muscular atrophy, and has used a wheelchair ever since. In 2013, she was the runner-up on season three of “Faktor A”, Russia’s version of the hit television show “The X Factor.” The following year she took part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Paralympics. 

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev from May 9-13, following the victory of Ukraine’s Jamala last year. This is the second time Kiev is hosting the Eurovision, the first being in 2005.