Russian singer barred from Eurovision

MOSCOW — Ukraine’s security service has banned Russia’s contestant from this year’s Eurovision song contest.

Russia this month chose 27-year-old singer Yulia Samoylova to represent the country in the May 11-13 contest in Kyiv.

But Samoylova has toured in Russiaannexed Crimea, without entering it by going through the de-facto border with the Ukrainian mainland. Under Ukrainian law, that allows authorities to block her entry.

Ukrainian Security Service spokeswoman Olena Gitlanska said Wednesday on Facebook that Samoylova has been banned from the country for three years “on the basis of information received about her violation of Ukrainian law.”

Samoylova, who uses a wheelchair, sang at the opening of the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. —