Main points
- At the National Selection for Eurovision, Ruslana, as a member of the jury, openly expressed support for the singer LELÉKA, which caused outrage and questions about impartiality.
- The artist made a similar comment in 2016 towards Jamala.
Ruslana / Collage of Channel 24
The national selection for Eurovision took place on February 7. The representative from Ukraine was chosen – singer LELÉKA. She received the highest number of points from both the jury and the audience.
- 1 What happened at the National Selection?
- 2 Public Outrage and Reaction
- 3 History repeats itself: what was it like in 2016?
For Ukraine, the National Selection provokes various topics for discussion every year. This time, perhaps the most attention of the public was attracted by Ruslana – the winner of Eurovision-2004, who was one of the experts and members of the jury. 24 Channel will tell in more detail about the scandal and recall what a similar situation was 10 years ago.
What happened at the National Selection?
This year, the experts did not comment on each participant's performance, but spoke after the first and second half of the numbers.
After the first five participants performed, Ruslana did not single out specific contestants, but noted that to win at Eurovision, one must remain oneself and revive Ukrainian culture. And after all the finalists performed, she made a rather loud statement that caused a stir online.
In times of war, we need something that can do more than weapons: we need to reach people's hearts. We have an idea, we have a note, we have a style and a potential future art-pop hit. We can give a message, an impulse that Ukraine will take off. It is already taking off. For me, this is a musical phenomenon, and I believe that we have a nugget. I urge you all to vote for LELÉKA for Eurovision in Vienna,
– Ruslana said live.
Ruslana called for voting for LELÉKA: watch the video online
Outrage and reaction of the Public
Such open campaigning by the artist was not received positively by everyone. Lawyer Yevgeny Pronin suggested that this could be a violation of Eurovision rules. In his opinion, Ruslana's statement breaks the perception of the jury as an impartial institution and puts the participants in an unequal position.
A personal position voiced by a jury member in the form of direct campaigning is a violation of the principles of adversarial process and impartiality and affects the audience vote. And here it is worth calling a spade a spade,
– wrote Yevhen Pronin.
The day after the National Selection, Public Broadcasting commented on Ruslana's statements. They believe that the singer did not violate the rules.
Such a comment does not violate the rules of the National Selection and is Ruslana's personal position. Thus, after the performances, the jury members hold a closed discussion and individually assign points to the participants, the sum of which is used to form the final result of the jury vote,
– noted the Public.
We also note that according to the rules, campaigning for a specific participant is not allowed until the final of the National Selection. While during the final, jury members can speak.
Panel of experts at the National Selection / Photo by the press service
History repeats itself: what was it like in 2016?
10 years ago, in 2016, Ruslana Lyzhychko was also a judge of the National Selection. The jury members then also included Konstantin Meladze (who is silent about the war today) and Andriy Danylko. At that time, the National Selection consisted of two semi-finals and a final.
Jamala performed the song “1944” in the first semi-final and received positive feedback from the judges. Andriy Danylko called her performance her best at that time, and Meladze described Jamala as “an outstanding singer and musician.”
“I am not calling or campaigning to vote for her, those who have ears will hear. I am calling to appreciate the people who are with us. I have certain amendments, but these are technical subtleties,” Konstantin added then.
Instead, Ruslana did not hold back her emotions and openly called on everyone to vote for Jamala.
You made me understand through music the pain of losing Crimea. I cried with you, honestly. A person who truly cares is capable of this. This is more than originality, deeper than just art. We are idiots if we don't vote for you. Unlike Kostya, I urge you to vote for you,
– the artist said then.
Ruslana's comment about Jamala in 2016: watch the video online
And although her statement, both then and now, will remain controversial for many, the result of Eurovision 2016 is known to everyone: Ukraine won. 10 years have passed since then.
“2026 is becoming more and more like the new 2016! Ruslana is again in the chair of the jury of experts, and again she is calling, and again Ukraine will win? Ruslana was the only one who drowned for Jamala in 2016. And so it is now. She felt and expressed her opinion,” – this is how the artist's team commented on her words.