"I can reiterate that Russia can take part in Eurovision 2017 in Kyiv, only if their participant has not violated Ukrainian law. And I think France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland or any other country that is a member of the European Broadcasting Union would have taken a similar decision," said Kyrylenko.
"At the same time, demanding that Ukraine take unprecedented decisions in Russia’s favor and in violation of its own legislation and, by the way, international law as well, is unprecedented and unacceptable," he said.
Read alsoEurovision operator: Ukraine might be excluded in future if Russia doesn't participateAs UNIAN reported earlier, March 22, the SBU Security Service of Ukraine banned Russian entrant Julia Samoilova from entering Ukraine for a three-year period. According to SBU spokesperson Olena Hytlianska, "the decision taken based on the data on her violation of Ukrainian laws."
In June 2015, Samoilova visited the Russian-occupied Crimea to perform in a local show. Ukraine stresses the illegal nature of such visit as it was not agreed with the Ukrainian authorities.
Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Ingrid Deltenre threatened Ukraine with sanctions due to an entry ban against Samoilova.
