"Channel One received a letter from the European Broadcasting Union today, stating that the EBU failed to settle the issue of Yulia Samoilova’s participation in the Eurovision contests, with reference to the decision of the Ukrainian special services. … In this situation Channel One does not deem possible broadcasting the 2017 Eurovision Contest," the statement said, adding that the broadcaster considers Ukraine’s actions "groundless" and aimed at "politicizing the contest."
The 2017 Eurovision contest will take place in Kiev in May, with Russia scheduled to participate in the second semifinal on May 11, and the final being set for May 13. However, the Ukrainian Security Service banned entry into the country for Samoilova for three years due to her visit to Crimea in 2015 without first obtaining a permit from Ukraine. In accordance with the country's law, Ukraine may ban entry for foreigners who had visited post-referendum Crimea without a permit from Kiev.
Russian officials criticized Kiev's ban on Samoilova's entry to Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warning against politicizing the Eurovision.
