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Eurovision Supervisor addresses concerns on Russia

14 November 2013 at 16:30 CET

The Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest has sent an official letter to Russia’s two largest TV channels. Here they asked questions about whether the country’s much debated laws on "non-traditional sexual relations" will have an impact if Russia again should win the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest.

”From our side, this is completely undramatic”, explains Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Jon Ola Sand.

”We have been asked by several of our member states and by journalists and fans, whether the new laws could affect the Eurovision Song Contest. That is why we have been in dialogue with the two Russian TV companies that are members of the EBU”, he says in an interview with Danish broadcaster, DR.

”There is no reason to believe that we cannot organise the Eurovision Song Contest in Russia”, he affirms.

It's up to the individual countries to decide

According to the German magazine Stern, a Swedish member of the Reference Group has raised doubts about whether Sweden would participate if Russia wins again. However, this has not been confirmed as the official position of Swedish broadcaster, SVT, Jon Ola Sand informs.

”Every year there is a discussion about who will take part in the competition and it is naturally up to each individual broadcaster to decide”, he says.

Russia hosted a very successful edition of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2009, when Norway took home the victory with Alexander Rybak's megahit Fairytale.