EBU confirms decision to move Eurovision 2023 from Ukraine to another country

MOSCOW. June 24 (Interfax) - The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed the transfer of the Eurovision 2023 International Song Contest from Ukraine to another country and said that it will continue discussions on finding a suitable venue for next year's contest.

"The EBU fully understands the disappointment that greeted the announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) cannot be staged in Ukraine, this year's winning country. The decision was guided by the EBU's responsibility to ensure the conditions are met to guarantee the safety and security of everyone working and participating in the event, the planning of which needs to begin immediately in the host country," the Ukrainian media quoted the organization as saying in its statement.

It is critical that decisions made in relation to such a complex live television event are made by broadcasting professionals and do not become politicized, the EBU said, underscoring that the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest clearly state that the event can be moved in a force majeure situation.

"The EBU sought third-party expert security advice which clearly stated that the counter measures proposed to mitigate the threats planning the event in Ukraine were insufficient for an international public event and the risk rating of a mass casualty event due to the ongoing conflict is 'high'," it said.

Alongside the security concerns, the continued conflict in Ukraine makes delegations and participants reluctant to travel to the country, it said.

"With regards to the possibility of hosting the Contest in a border location close to a neighboring country, the specifications of suggested venues, and the lack of the necessary surrounding infrastructure, do not meet the requirements of the ESC," the EBU said.

Taking all of this into account the EBU, with regret, made its decision to move the event to another country and will continue discussions on finding a suitable location for next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

As reported, on June 14 the Eurovision organizers from Ukraine held an official kick-off meeting with the Reference Group, partners of the Eurovision Song Contest and the core team from the EBU, which considered the presentation of guarantees and preparatory measures, in particular the security questionnaire, potential locations for the contest.

However, the EBU said on June 17 that, having analyzed the security situation in Ukraine, it decided not to hold next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine. The EBU added that it would start negotiations with the BBC on holding the contest in the United Kingdom.

Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko said then that Ukraine disagrees with the decision on the impossibility of holding the Eurovision 2023 contest in Ukraine, and demanded that it be reversed.