Jamala says rules for Eurovision national selection can be revised, improved
The music producer of the national selection for the international song contest Eurovision-2026, singer Jamala, believes that the rules for admission to the national selection can be reviewed and improved.
"I said that perhaps it (the rule - IF-U) needs to be improved... Are there people who were there (in the Russian Federation - IF-U) on tour, but now they are very helpful and doing everything possible for Ukrainian music and for the military and so on, yes! It's not for me to decide, because this is really a matter for Suspilne (Public Broadcasting Company), and the whole team decides how much it all needs to be changed," Jamala said, appearing as a guest on the "Morning in a Big City" TV show broadcast by ICTV2 TV.
At the same time, she noted that in general, perhaps, it is possible to somehow think about certain changes to the rules, but she does not have an answer on how exactly to do it.
When asked whether artists who performed in the Russian Federation after 2014, but currently have an unequivocal pro-Ukrainian position, should be allowed to participate in the national selection for Eurovision, Jamala stated that: "we love them here anyway, people go to concerts, sold-out shows at the Palace of Sports, they vote for them with their tickets, they vote for them with their auditions. So it's probably a bit of a game."
Jamala is this year's music producer for the national selection for Eurovision 2026. She has also been a member of the national selection jury seven times and has chosen Ukraine's entrant for the competition. In addition, she is the winner of Eurovision 2016.
As reported, Olga Polyakova said that she plans to apply to participate in the national selection for Eurovision 2026. In this regard, she appealed to the Public Broadcasting Company to change the selection rules. In particular, she stated that the rules should develop together with the country, and therefore it is important that every artist who lives, works and creates in Ukraine has an equal right to represent the state on the international stage.
In response to Polyakova's appeal, the Public Broadcasting Company states that it considers it unacceptable for Ukraine to be represented at the international Eurovision Song Contest by artists who have performed in the Russian Federation or the occupied territories after March 15, 2014.
It is known from open sources that Polyakova last performed in Russia on May 23, 2015, becoming the host of the RU.TV award.
After that, the performer's producer, Mikhail Yasinsky, allowed a legal appeal if the Public Broadcasting Company does not allow the artist to participate in the national selection for Eurovision-2026. In addition, he complained to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
On November 24, Suspilne announced the longlist of participants in the national selection for Eurovision 2026. Polyakova is not among the contenders.
At the end of November, Yasinsky stated that he saw no point in his artist participating in Eurovision.
On December 11, Yasinsky addressed Suspilne with a proposal to initiate a public discussion on the need to revise the provisions of the rules for the national selection for Eurovision. In particular, he proposes to include the following provisions in the rules: a complete and unconditional ban on any activity with the aggressor after February 24, 2022; the period until February 24, 2022 should be evaluated in a differentiated manner, taking into account: regularity of performances, format of events, availability of contracts, subsequent civic and public position; individual assessment instead of automatic disqualification; the same criteria for everyone, including issues such as paying taxes in Ukraine, complying with the law, and the legality of crossing the border during martial law. Among other things, the producer once again stated that he did not want to take this issue to court.
