EBU fines Armenia for pulling out of Eurovision

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has imposed a fine on Armenia for an earlier decision to withdraw from the Eurovision 2012 Song Contest scheduled in Baku, Azerbaijan later this month.

Speaking to the Russian news agency ITAR TASS, EBU Media Director Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser said that the decision was made by their television and reference group. According to her, Armenia is required to pay the participation fee, in addition to a fine that makes 50% of that amount.

Besides, Frankenhaeuser said that the Public Television will have to air the show live not to be banned from participation next year.

Frankenhaeuser told the agency that the motives behind Armenia’s refusal to take part in the contest had been taken into consideration while making the decision. She explained that a participant country is not allowed to pull out of the contest after the expiry of the time period set out in their regulations.

On February 24, several Armenian pop singers issued a joint statement expressing their unwillingness to attend this year’s event. It came after an Armenian conscript was shot dead by an Azerbaijani sniper on the Contact Line between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
 

Speaking at a news conference today, EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said Armenia’s move conflicts with the Union’s rules.