Eurovision asks Russia to please explain

Eurovision Song Contest organisers have sent an official letter to Russia’s television stations Channel One and Rossiya 1, asking them to explain the ramifications of a controversial anti-gay propaganda laws should the show be held in Russia.

The letter calls on the two Russian stations to answer several questions regarding creative freedom and safety of Eurovision participants and fans in case Russia were to host a contest.

“We decided to make that step because several bigger countries have expressed concerns about safety,” Thomas Shreiber, head of entertainment programs at the German TV station NDR and a member of the committee, told German magazine Stern reported.

Some European counties are worried that the Russian law “against propaganda of homosexuality among minors,” which came into effect earlier this year, could lead to safety problems for gay participants and spectators.

A Eurovision spokesman said: ‘As always with any hosting country, we ask for guarantees for security of all the people involved in the Eurovision Song Contest. 

“If Russia wins in the foreseeable future, and they tell us they cannot guarantee the safety of organizers or spectators, we will take action,” he told Gay Star News.

‘It is one of the conditions of hosting Eurovision.”

“The safety of our organisers, acts and spectators is our number one priority.”

Russian act t.A.T.u., which advocated “love without boundaries,” represented Russia in the 2003 Eurovision performing “Ne Ver’, Ne Boysia”, finishing in third place.

Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws are already impacting on the Sochi Winter Olympics with boycotts emerging.

Source: Hollywood Reporter