The entire Eurovision mess is not calming down in Ukraine, as after Maruv and the national broadcaster UA:PBC failed to reach an agreement and Maruv decided not to sign the proposed contract, now UA:PBC is considering either withdrawing from the Contest, or sending any other entry that took part in this year’s Vidbir.

Our friends at ESCKaz reported an interview with Oleksandra Koltsova, a member of the board of UA:PBC, where she stated the following:

First, we will consult with the European Broadcasting Union about the politicization of the selection process in Ukraine. How does this affect our participation this year? Then we will talk to lawyers if we want to continue to participate as a broadcaster. Then we will talk to management of the artists. And then we will make a decision.

We will hold our consultations with the organizers of the national selection. Of course, it’s quite a logical assumption that this will be the performer who finished on second place and this will be one of the options that will be considered. Very theoretically, we could send just anyone. But, of course, we have finalists of the national selection … So I think we will choose from among them.

When she was talking about the contract that was proposed to Maruv, she confirmed that the singer agreed to cancel all of her concerts in Russia, and added:

The artist has published her own interpretation of these conditions… but most of them are just a standard ones from the Eurovision Song Contest rules. In addition, there was a clause on cancellation of tours in the Russian Federation – for the duration of preparations and participation in the contest.

In each selection there were artists who at that time performed in the Russian Federation, none of them reached the final, so we did not apply this clause. There always was a contract, we added this clause after the first semi-final, when there were real chances that we will have such a case, and it will be necessary to interpret this both for our society and outside.

Koltsova also confirmed that should they continue down the list of Vidbir, the newly chosen act will be offered the exact same contract that Maruv chose not to sign.

ESCBubble reached out to the EBU to find out more about their view of the entire situation, as it all seems to have a political background. The spokesperson at the EBU stated the following:

Each participating broadcaster is responsible for the selection of their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest in accordance to the rules set out by the European Broadcasting Union. The Ukrainian broadcaster is currently in talks to announce the representative for this year’s contest and once they are confirmed, will be announced on the official Eurovision channels.