After meetings held today at UA:PBC, the CEO of the national broadcaster, Mr. Zurab Alasania confirmed that Maruv did not sign the contract, and will thus not represent Ukraine at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, even though she won Vidbir on Saturday night with “Siren Song”.

Mr. Alasania stated that after 5.5 hour long negotiations between the national broadcaster and Maruv’s team, the two sides will not be signing the contract. He confirms that everything was regular in the national selection, but that afterwards inner political problems were opened which have nothing to do with music. According to Mr. Alasania, “performing in the aggressor country gives a negative resonance in the society“.

Maruv didn’t come to an agreement with UA:PBC, as it was requested from her not to tour in Russia from now on until three months after the Eurovision Song Contest has ended. Mr. Alasania added that now the decision on the act which will represent Ukraine in Eurovision 2019 remains open, and the negotiations with the next act will start tomorrow morning.

Find the whole statement of Mr. Alasania here:

At the end Maruv stated the following:

Negotiations were deadlocked. Everything was done to overshadow the choice of Ukrainian viewers behind the political curtain. I love my country, but I cannot participate in such inhuman conditions either morally or physically. Most of all, I appreciate freedom, and I will not defend someone’s political ambitions. Thank you for the great support from all the fans. I don’t give up and I’m already working on a music video for the song “Siren Song”, as well as preparing a big tour in Ukraine and CIS countries.