Authorities in Ukraine has ensured the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that people who pose no threat are welcome to visit the country for the Eurovision 2017 song contest to be held in Kiev, TASS agency reported.
“We have received guarantees from the Ukrainian authorities, that all those who wish to attend the song contest and pose no threat are welcome to do so, while their safety will be ensured,” the agency quoted the EBU representative as saying, which is Eurovision’s organizer.
To remind, Ukraine barred some Russian artists from entering the country over the conflict in Crimea. The ban extended to artists who performed in the country’s disputed regions. The “black list” includes popular singers Oleg Gazmanov, Mikhail Boyarsky, Nikolai Rastorguyev, Iosif Kobzon, Valeria and Grigory Leps. After it became clear the country was to host the song contest, Ukranian authorities confirmed that the country won’t temporarily lift an entry ban on Russian artists who might wish to visit the song contest.
The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is to be held in Kiev on May 9, 11, and 13. Ukraine won the right to host it due to this year’s victory of the country’s entrant, singer Jamala.
