ESC2017

Eurovision-2017 row: Ukraine to challenge in court freezing of EUR 15 mln by Switzerland
<p>The Cabinet of Ministers authorized the Ministry of Justice to procure legal services to represent Ukraine's interests in a Swiss court aimed at returning the funds laid out as financial guarantees for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, as stated in the relevant government decree.</p>10:35, 11 August 2017

Overwhelming majority of Eurovision-2017 foreign guests mull another visit - poll
<p>A total of 92% of foreigners who came to Ukraine to see Eurovision 2017 Song Contest in Kyiv have expressed their will to visit Ukraine at least once again, according to the poll by the Institute of World Politics and GfK Ukraine.</p>16:40, 24 May 2017

Reuters: Putin says Russia right to boycott Eurovision over Ukraine
<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia was right to boycott this year's Eurovision song contest because Ukrainian authorities were not up to the job of organizing such events, according to Reuters.</p>16:09, 15 May 2017

Reuters: Ukraine says detains prankster who mooned during Eurovision
<p>Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Sunday Ukrainian police had detained a Ukrainian prankster for jumping onto the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest and dropping his trousers while singer Jamala was performing, according to Reuters.</p>08:45, 15 May 2017

Portugal wins Eurovision 2017 trophy in Kyiv
<p>Salvador Sobral from Portugal has won the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with his entry "Amar Pelos Dois."</p>02:04, 14 May 2017

Eurovision 2017 Grand Final Live
<p>Kyiv is hosting the Grand Finals of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.</p>22:00, 13 May 2017

Eurovision-2017 odds: bookies bet on Portugal’s Salvador Sobral (video)
<p>Twenty-four hours before the Eurovision-2017 Grand Final, the William Hill bookmakers shifted their odds for the winner away from Italy’s Francesco Gabanni to Portugal’s Salvador Sobral.</p>13:32, 13 May 2017

Bulgarian ESC 2017 entrant did not violate law by his 2014 Crimea visit – border guards
<p>The State Border Guard Service had no reason to refuse entry to Bulgarian singer Kristian Kostov since he had not violated the rules of crossing the Ukrainian border, the country's Border Guard Service spokesman Oleh Slobodian told UNIAN.</p>11:00, 12 May 2017

All countries qualified for Eurovision's Grand Final become known
<p>All countries qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest's Grand Final, which is scheduled for May 13, have become known after the second semi-final on May 11.</p>00:44, 12 May 2017

Kyiv spends $1.9 mln on Eurovision security
<p>Ukrainian organizers of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 events have spent about UAH 50 million, or US$1.9 million, on security, according to the Ukrainian news portal Ukrayinska Pravda.</p>21:12, 11 May 2017

RFE/RL: Officials examine report Bulgarian Eurovision entrant performed in Crimea
<p>Ukrainian authorities and Eurovision Song Contest officials in Kyiv said on May 11 that they were looking into reports that the Bulgarian entrant in the competition visited Crimea, a potential violation of Ukrainian law, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).</p>18:50, 11 May 2017

Eurovision organizers to consider sanctions against Ukraine over Russia entry in June
<p>Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand has announced that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will decide whether sanctions against Ukraine over a Russian contestant should be introduced or not after the competition is over. </p>20:55, 10 May 2017

Eurovision 2017 Semi-final 1 results announced
<p>Ten finalists of the Eurovision 2017 song contest in Kyiv have been named after 18 contestants took part in Semi-final 1 on May 9.</p>00:55, 10 May 2017

Enthusiasts create alternative promotion video ahead of Eurovision 2017
<p>A group of professionals from the television industry came forward with an initiative to create an alternative promo video of Ukraine and the City of Kyiv ahead of the Eurovision-2017 International Song Contest, Ukrainska Pravda reported.</p>13:30, 30 April 2017

Groysman says Ukraine fully ready for Eurovision-2017
<p>Ukraine is fully prepared for hosting the Eurovision-2017 International Song Contest on the territory of the International Exhibition Center in Kyiv, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said after getting acquainted with the state of preparation for the contest.</p>16:40, 28 April 2017

Ukraine includes video with Crimea landscapes in Eurovision 2017 promo clip
<p>A special promo video clip about Ukraine was released ahead of the Eurovision-2017 International Song Contest, titled "Come to Ukraine to Celebrate Diversity."</p>11:20, 28 April 2017

SBU holds anti-terrorist drills at Eurovision venue in Kyiv
<p>The coordination group of the Anti-Terrorist Center at the Main Directorate of the Security Service in the City of Kyiv and Kyiv region is conducting tactical special exercises at the International Exhibition Center which will host Eurovision 2017 in May,” the SBU press center reported in the late hours of Tuesday, April 25.</p>09:20, 26 April 2017

Russia plotting provocations in Odesa ahead of Eurovision-2017 – Ukraine intel
<p>Russian security forces have been preparing to stage provocations in Odesa on May 2 and May 9, aiming at creating a negative perception of Ukraine abroad in the context of tEurovision-2017 international song contest hosted in Kyiv, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on Facebook.</p>14:40, 25 April 2017

Ukraine provides equal opportunities for all Eurovision participants, but they must respect law – MFA
<p>Ukraine provides equal opportunities for all participants of the Eurovision-2017 international song contest, which will be held in Kyiv, but they must respect Ukrainian law.</p>14:40, 13 April 2017

Eurovision-2017: Deputy PM comments on possible sanctions against Ukraine over Russian entrant row
<p>Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Viacheslav Kyrylenko said Kyiv is ready to further clarify to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) the situation regarding the entry ban against Russian entrant Julia Samoilova if the issue of any sanctions arises following Eurovision-2017, Obozrevatel news outlet reports.</p>11:00, 11 April 2017