Ukrainian singer Maruv will not represent her country at the Eurovision Song Contest in May after a row exposing tensions over Russia.
Anna Korsun, 27, who goes by the stage name Maruv, was selected by a public vote on Saturday to sing at the contest in Tel Aviv but she ultimately refused to sign her contract with the Ukrainian TV authority.
Maruv said the state broadcaster had tried to impose contractual obligations requiring her not to perform in Russia – a cash-cow for post-Soviet regional pop-stars.
“I am a citizen of Ukraine, pay taxes and sincerely love Ukraine. But I am not ready to come up with slogans and turn my participation in the contest into a promotional activity for our politicians,” the singer wrote on Facebook.
“I am a musician, not a puppet for the political arena,” she added.
Via Euronews
