UKRAINE (CelebrityAccess) – Ukraine has pulled out of their year’s Eurovision Song Contest after a contractual disagreement with its nominee, pop singer Maruv.
The 27-year-old, who won Ukraine’s public vote over the weekend, withdrew from the contest on Tuesday, saying she refused to be used as a “political tool”.
The proposed contract from the Ukrainian Broadcasting Authority (UA:PBC) included restrictions on performing in Russia leading up to this year’s event in Israel in May.
Maruv argued that signing the contract would have made her a propagandist for the Kiev government.
“I am a citizen of Ukraine, pay taxes and sincerely love Ukraine. But I am not ready to come up with slogans and turn my participation in the contest into a promotional activity for our politicians,” she wrote on Facebook.
“I am a musician, not a puppet for the political arena,” she added.
Two other bands were then approached by the national broadcaster, but both declined to take part.
The row comes amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, which centers around the annexation of Crimea by Russian forces in 2014.
