THEGAYUK

Tag: Ukraine News

Get the latest LGBT+ Ukraine news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Ukraine.

  • Russia is no longer part of Eurovision

    Russia is out of Eurovision after the host nation, Ukraine said it would refuse entry to the Russian contestant.

    Russia will not be taking part in Eurovision 2017 after the Ukraine banned its entry, Julia Samoylova from entering the country. According to the EBU two solutions were offered to Russia’s Eurovision broadcast partner, Channel One and both were vetoed. Russia first performed at the Eurovision in 1994. This will be the first time it has not taken part in the competition.

    In a statement, the EBU said that Julia could take part via satellite or change their chosen artist to one that could legally travel to the Ukraine for the competition.

    The EBU stated,

    “Sadly both proposals have been rejected by Channel One and they have now announced they do not intend to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Unfortunately this means Russia will no longer be able to take part in this year’s competition. We very much wanted all 43 countries to be able to participate and did all we could to achieve this”.

     

    Why Did The Ukraine Ban Russia’s Eurovision Entry?

    Ukraine law forbids entering Crimea in order to perform. According to sources around 140 other Russian artists have been blacklisted by the SBU following the annexation of Crimea last year. Julia Samoylova is one of those artists as she had previously travelled to Crimea to perform.

    Russia and Ukraine have been in dispute since the annexation of Crimea and the fighting in east Ukraine.

     

    Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the event’s steering committee, said,

    “We strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to impose a travel ban on Julia Samoylova as we believe it thoroughly undermines the integrity and non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest and its mission to bring all nations together in friendly competition. However, preparations continue apace for the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city Kyiv. Our top priority remains to produce a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest with our Member UA:PBC in May.”

  • Ukraine has just banned Russia’s act from the Eurovision Song Content

    This year’s Eurovision Song Contest host, Ukraine has just banned Russia’s act from the country.

    Russia’s Eurovision entry, Julia Samoilova has been banned from appearing at the competition as it emerges that shehas performed in Crimea.

    The former Russian X Factor singer had been due to perform her ballad “Flame Is Burning” at the competition in May, however, Ukraine’s security services, SBU, have determined that her visit to the territory would be “illegal”.

    Ukraine law forbids entering Crimea in order to perform.

    According to sources around 140 other Russian artists have been blacklisted by the SBU following the annexation of Crimea last year.

    Russia and Ukraine have been in dispute since the annexation of Crimea and the fighting in east Ukraine.

    The UK’s Foreign office updated its advice for travellers to the Ukraine for Eurovision saying that it advised against travelling to Donetsk oblast, Luhansk oblast to the east of the country and Crimea in the south. It also warned that the UK was not able to provide consular services to any part of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and Crimea.

    It tells travellers,

    “Russian forces and pro-Russian groups have established full operational control in Crimea. Following an illegal referendum on 16 March 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea on 21 March 2014 and tensions remain high”.

    The EBU has released a statement about the decision to ban Julia Samoilova saying,

    “We have to respect the local laws of the host country, however we are deeply disappointed in this decision as we feel it goes against both the spirit of the Contest, and the notion of inclusivity that lies at the heart of its values.

    We will continue a dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with the aim of ensuring that all artists can perform at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv in May. “

  • Gay Couple Sprayed With Pepper Spray In Violent Homophobic Attack In Kiev

    A violent gang in Kiev physically attacked a young gay couple after trying an experiment to see what social reactions they would get if they held hands or showed public affection.

    Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk from Bird In Flight TV repeated an experiment filmed by a Russian Vlog team, ChebuRussia TV, to see what would happen if two men showed affection in public in Kiev, unlike the Russian experience, Kis and Levchuck found themselves in the centre of a violent attack involving pepper spray and kicks to the head.

    The shocking video reveals the real danger posed to openly gay men in the city of Kiev.

    In the video, the two men start by holding hands around the city. Their actions weren’t met with anything more than stares. Kis said, “We never heard any insults and those people who did have a verbal reaction… we were like aliens to them.”

    The couple then decided to heat up the action a little by sitting on each other’s lap and giving flowers. It was then that they were approached by a group of 10- 15 reportedly neo-Nazis, with one of them saying:

    “It looks like they’re f**king mistaking this place for America.”

    Luckily for Kis and Levchuk the attack was quickly broken up when a man in blue stepped into to separate the group, but not before at least three of the gang had landed kicks to the faces and bodies of the gay couple.

    Neo-Nazi groups have been accused of violence and even the murder of several gay men in the last few years. In 2013 it was reported that neo-Nazis were posting fake personal ads in Russia in order to lure gay teens into an ambush.

    In June 2013 an 18-year-old French gay rights activist Clément Méric was left brain dead after a violent attack by a gang of neo-Nazis.

    The Uk’s Foreign Office warns gay travellers that, “Although homosexuality is not prohibited by law, public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and public displays of affection may attract negative attention. There is no provision under Ukrainian legislation guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and there has been an increase in intolerance towards the LGBT community.”

  • Arson Attack On Cinema During Gay Film Festival

    Two days ago The Circle, the gay movie that is Switzerland’s official submission for a Best Foreign Picture Oscar Nomination, was being screened in Kiev’s iconic theatre Cinema Zhovten as part of on an LGBT Film Series.

    Anti-LGBT protests and the burning of pride flags took place outside, but during the next screening the theatre was set on fire with over 100 people inside and it burned down to the ground. Remarkably no casualties were reported.

    It’s a sobering reminder of the real strength of homophobia, and as the news spread on Facebook in Ukraine someone posted ‘it’s a country where street Nazis have become police officers, no-one will investigate a crime committed by the Far-Right. One hand washes the other.