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10 times Eurovision turned political

It's that time of year again: Eurovision is upon us, but it isn't all about sequins and songs. Here are 10 times that politics trumped performance in the song contest.

  • Russische ESC Kandidatin Julia Samoilowa (picture-alliance/dpa/M. Antipina)

    Don't upset the neighbors

    This year's contest, held in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, marks the first time that a host state has banned another country's entrant. Ukrainian security services denied entry to 27-year-old, wheelchair-bound Yulia Samoylova of Russia after reports surfaced that she toured Crimea after Russia annexed it in 2014. In response, Russia's state-owned broadcaster Channel One will not air the contest.

  • Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm Jamala Ukraine Finale Gewinnerin (picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen)

    Lyrically political

    Russia and Ukraine had their share of Eurovision drama in 2016 when Ukrainian entrant Jamala beat Russia's Sergey Lazarev. The song "1944" about Stalin’s deportation of Crimean Tatars during the World War Two was initially deemed controversial due to the contest's ban on explicit political messages. Jamala was victorious, however, with 534 points. Russia finished third, with Australia second.

  • Conchita Wurst gewinnt Eurovision Song Contest 2014 (AFP/Getty Images)

    Rising against the radicals

    While the slogan of the 2017 Eurovision is "Celebrate Diversity," three years ago in Copenhagen, the victory of Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst (born Tom Neuwirth) saw a backlash from numerous countries. Radical groups in Russia, Azerbaijan and Belarus all campaigned - without success - to keep the then 25-year-old from entering.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | 1969 in Spanien (picture alliance/IMAGNO/Votava)

    Austria takes a stand

    In 1969, Austria took a political stance against Spain and withdrew from Eurovision. The country refused to take part in Madrid to show its opposition to the Franco regime. Spanish General Francisco Franco ruled over Spain as a military dictator for 39 years from 1936 until his death in 1975. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people died as a result of his human rights abuses.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Tanel Badar und Dave Benton 2001 (picture-alliance/dpa/NORDFOTO/N. Meilvang)

    Singing for freedom

    In 2001, Estonia became the first former-Soviet republic to win Eurovision. "We freed ourselves from the Soviet empire through song," Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar said, following the victory in Copenhagen. "Now we will sing our way into Europe," he added, referring to ongoing talks over the country's accession into the European Union. Estonia's independence was restored in 1991.

  • Georgien Musikgruppe Stephane & 3G in Tiflis (picture-alliance/dpa/ITAR-TASS/D. Urbani)

    Russian disco

    Georgia was disqualified from the Moscow 2009 contest over their disco-funk entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In" after the Geneva-based European Broadcasting Union (EBU) deemed the lyrics too political. As well as an apparent play on Russian President Vladimir Putin's name, Georgian female trio 3G, along with male vocalist Stephane sang of a "negative move" that was "killing the groove."

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Ruslana Lyzichko 2004 (picture-alliance/dpa/K. Okten)

    Geographical bias

    A long-running debate in Eurovision is the apparent bloc voting by neighboring countries. Late UK presenter Terry Wogan famously stepped down from commentating Eurovision in 2008, saying it was "no longer a music contest." Some of the main perpetrators are Cyprus and Greece, Scandinavia, the Balkan states and the former Soviet bloc. Last year's change in voting aims to minimize geographical bias.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Urban Trad 2003 (picture-alliance/dpa/U. Perrey)

    Tongue-tied Belgians

    Language has long been a fundamental flaw at the heart of Belgium's ongoing existential Eurovision crisis. For years, in a bid to keep the peace at home, Belgium has alternated between sending an entry to sing either in Flemish or French. Back in 2003, however, the Belgians avoided any linguistic woes with their entry "Sanomi," which was sung by the band Urban Trad in a fictional language.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Iveta Mukuchyan 2016 (picture alliance/IBL Schweden/O. Axman)

    Aggravation with Armenia and Azerbaijan

    In 2015, allegations arose that Armenia used its entry to call for recognition of the Armenian genocide during the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians remains unrecognized by Turkey and Azerbaijan. A year later, Armenian entrant Iveta Mukuchyan was reprimanded for holding a Nagorno-Karabakh flag. The de-facto independent republic is claimed by Azerbaijan.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Sakis Rouvas und Sertab Erener (picture alliance/AP Photo/O. Orsal)

    Erdogan-vision

    Citing "dissatisfaction with the rules," Turkey refused to participate in the 2013 contest. Following Conchita Wurst's victory, a Turkish MP from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP reported the country would no longer take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. Turkey had participated in the contest 34 times since its first appearance in 1975 and even won in 2004.


  • Russische ESC Kandidatin Julia Samoilowa (picture-alliance/dpa/M. Antipina)

    Don't upset the neighbors

    This year's contest, held in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, marks the first time that a host state has banned another country's entrant. Ukrainian security services denied entry to 27-year-old, wheelchair-bound Yulia Samoylova of Russia after reports surfaced that she toured Crimea after Russia annexed it in 2014. In response, Russia's state-owned broadcaster Channel One will not air the contest.

  • Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm Jamala Ukraine Finale Gewinnerin (picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen)

    Lyrically political

    Russia and Ukraine had their share of Eurovision drama in 2016 when Ukrainian entrant Jamala beat Russia's Sergey Lazarev. The song "1944" about Stalin’s deportation of Crimean Tatars during the World War Two was initially deemed controversial due to the contest's ban on explicit political messages. Jamala was victorious, however, with 534 points. Russia finished third, with Australia second.

  • Conchita Wurst gewinnt Eurovision Song Contest 2014 (AFP/Getty Images)

    Rising against the radicals

    While the slogan of the 2017 Eurovision is "Celebrate Diversity," three years ago in Copenhagen, the victory of Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst (born Tom Neuwirth) saw a backlash from numerous countries. Radical groups in Russia, Azerbaijan and Belarus all campaigned - without success - to keep the then 25-year-old from entering.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | 1969 in Spanien (picture alliance/IMAGNO/Votava)

    Austria takes a stand

    In 1969, Austria took a political stance against Spain and withdrew from Eurovision. The country refused to take part in Madrid to show its opposition to the Franco regime. Spanish General Francisco Franco ruled over Spain as a military dictator for 39 years from 1936 until his death in 1975. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people died as a result of his human rights abuses.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Tanel Badar und Dave Benton 2001 (picture-alliance/dpa/NORDFOTO/N. Meilvang)

    Singing for freedom

    In 2001, Estonia became the first former-Soviet republic to win Eurovision. "We freed ourselves from the Soviet empire through song," Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar said, following the victory in Copenhagen. "Now we will sing our way into Europe," he added, referring to ongoing talks over the country's accession into the European Union. Estonia's independence was restored in 1991.

  • Georgien Musikgruppe Stephane & 3G in Tiflis (picture-alliance/dpa/ITAR-TASS/D. Urbani)

    Russian disco

    Georgia was disqualified from the Moscow 2009 contest over their disco-funk entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In" after the Geneva-based European Broadcasting Union (EBU) deemed the lyrics too political. As well as an apparent play on Russian President Vladimir Putin's name, Georgian female trio 3G, along with male vocalist Stephane sang of a "negative move" that was "killing the groove."

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Ruslana Lyzichko 2004 (picture-alliance/dpa/K. Okten)

    Geographical bias

    A long-running debate in Eurovision is the apparent bloc voting by neighboring countries. Late UK presenter Terry Wogan famously stepped down from commentating Eurovision in 2008, saying it was "no longer a music contest." Some of the main perpetrators are Cyprus and Greece, Scandinavia, the Balkan states and the former Soviet bloc. Last year's change in voting aims to minimize geographical bias.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Urban Trad 2003 (picture-alliance/dpa/U. Perrey)

    Tongue-tied Belgians

    Language has long been a fundamental flaw at the heart of Belgium's ongoing existential Eurovision crisis. For years, in a bid to keep the peace at home, Belgium has alternated between sending an entry to sing either in Flemish or French. Back in 2003, however, the Belgians avoided any linguistic woes with their entry "Sanomi," which was sung by the band Urban Trad in a fictional language.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Iveta Mukuchyan 2016 (picture alliance/IBL Schweden/O. Axman)

    Aggravation with Armenia and Azerbaijan

    In 2015, allegations arose that Armenia used its entry to call for recognition of the Armenian genocide during the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians remains unrecognized by Turkey and Azerbaijan. A year later, Armenian entrant Iveta Mukuchyan was reprimanded for holding a Nagorno-Karabakh flag. The de-facto independent republic is claimed by Azerbaijan.

  • Eurovision Song Contest | Politische Ereignisse | Sakis Rouvas und Sertab Erener (picture alliance/AP Photo/O. Orsal)

    Erdogan-vision

    Citing "dissatisfaction with the rules," Turkey refused to participate in the 2013 contest. Following Conchita Wurst's victory, a Turkish MP from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP reported the country would no longer take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. Turkey had participated in the contest 34 times since its first appearance in 1975 and even won in 2004.


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