This week has seen the Eurovision Song Contest in full swing, with semi-finals beginning in host country Italy on Tuesday, May 10 ahead of the grand final on Saturday, May 14. But one country is missing from the list of those taking part, for the first time since 1994 - Russia.
For some, it may come as no surprise to see that the country which invaded Ukraine earlier this year - leading to a conflict which has so far lasted almost 80 days - left out of the competition. The European Broadcasting Union announced well before the competition even began that Russia would no longer participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest following the invasion of Ukraine.
A statement from the body, which produces the competition, said back in February: “The Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest’s governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.
