Rishi Sunak slams Eurovision decision to block President Zelensky from addressing live finals | The Sun
STUBBORN telly bosses have been blasted for blocking President Zelensky from making an address at Eurovision.
Rishi Sunak today slammed the European Broadcasting Union for refusing the Ukrainian President’s request to speak via video.
The organisers insisted the contest is “non-political” and will not even bend the rules so the war leader can say a few words.
Britain is hosting the event in Liverpool after defending champs Ukraine were forced to pass the baton because of Putin’s invasion.
Urging the EBU to rethink, Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes it would be fitting for President Zelensky to address the event and we're disappointed by the decision from the European Broadcasting Union.
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"The values and freedoms that President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they're fundamental, and Eurovision themselves recognised that last year when they rightly suspended Russia's participation from the competition."
Boris Johnson also piled in on the broadcasters, railing: “It would have been right to hear from President Zelenskyy at tomorrow night's Eurovision.
“There is only one reason the contest is not in Ukraine and that is because of Putin’s illegal war.”
They mauled the EBU after the organisation said President Zelensky had “laudable intentions” but “regrettably” his request was against the rules.
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The BBC, which is a member of the union, did not challenge the position and its presenters Rylan Clark and Scott Mills even agreed the event is non political.
Clark said: "At the end of the day we are commentators so we don't get involved in show format. I just think Eurovision, people say it is political – votes here, votes there.
"From being on the inside it is the least political experience you could ever have, actually."
Radio DJ Mills added: "People always ask, 'Do you think it is political?'. It really isn't. It is a song contest."
Clark continued: "It is a song contest and that is what we are here to say."
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