EBU EXAMINES MATTER OF AZERBAIJAN: SANCTIONS ARE SUPPOSED FOR THEM
Panorama.am
15:05 31/08/2009
The European Broadcasting Union, responsible for running the
"Eurovision" Song Contest will examine the matter of Azerbaijan
regarding allegations that telephone voters in Azerbaijan who voted
for the Armenian song in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest were
interrogated by security police at a meeting in Oslo on 11 September
2009.
The EBU will examine and discuss the matter that the National
Security Ministry of a participant country – Azerbaijan, has showed
interest towards the voters of Armenian representatives Inga and
Anush Arshakyans. It’s worth reminding that 43 are found to vote for
Armenian singers and all of them have been invited to Ministry of
National Security. It’s said that they have been accused of voting
the Armenian singers.
But the responsible figure of running the contest is determined to
examine the matter thoroughly.
"Any breach of privacy regarding voting, or interrogation of
individuals, is totally unacceptable," The EBU’s Director General,
Jean Reveillon told "New York Times".
According to the source, Ictimai, the EBU’s Azeri Member which
broadcast this year’s Song Contest from Moscow in May, has confirmed
its commitment to free and fair voting. While two individuals had
been invited to the Ministry of National Security, Ictimai said,
the Ministry of National Security had given assurances that nobody
had been questioned, either officially or unofficially, on voting in
the competition itself.
The EBU’s Director General said he took note of the
statements. However, he stressed that the freedom to vote for any
song except the one of the country where you are watching is one of
the cornerstones of the contest.
EBU will discuss the matter and it is supposed Azerbaijan will get
sanctions of suspending its right to participate in Eurovision song
contest for three years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
