Fine of R2.9m

– The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said yesterday it had handed the Ukrainian public broadcaster a “substantial fine” for barring a Russian singer from participating in May’s Eurovision song contest.

“The contest’s steering committee has recommended that UA:PBC should receive a substantial fine,” the Geneva-based EBU said in a statement.

Without disclosing the amount, EBU spokesperson Dave Goodman said “that fine has now been communicated to UA:PBC”.

The head of the broadcaster, Zurab Alasaniya, said the fine could be as high as €200 000 (R2.9 million).

“We will appeal the decision of the Eurovision steering committee, even though we have the impression it will not do any good,” he said in an interview with UA:PBC, adding that “the final decision has already been taken”.

The Geneva-based EBU, which groups 73 state and private broadcasters from 56 European countries, said the fine was warranted because UA:PBC had “failed to adequately fulfil its obligations with regards to co-operating with the EBU over the participation of the Russian artist”.

Ukraine barred Russia’s 27-year-old wheelchair-bound singer Yuliya Samoilova over illegally entering Moscow-annexed Crimea for a 2015-performance.

EBU said it had decided not to impose sanctions “at this time” on Russian broadcaster Channel One over its decision to withdraw from the competition and not broadcast the live show. – AFP