Azeri man from Toronto starts petition to disqualify Armenia from Eurovision Song Contest

Azeri man from Toronto starts petition to disqualify Armenia from Eurovision Song Contest –

Aypoupen – Armenia’s representative to the Eurovision Song Contest, Iveta Mukuchyan, who was holding a flag of Artsakh after securing a spot in Saturday’s finale, said all she wanted was “peace on the borders,” after being asked about the flag.

A slight controversy erupted last week, when a “Eurovision Code of Conduct” was published by the stadium hosting the event, by which certain flags were banned from being displayed. The flag of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was among other flags, such as the Palestinian Territory, that was banned.

This created quite an uproar on social media, forcing the venue to rethink its “code” and allowing the said flags to the ceremony.

After few hours Elkhan Aslanov from Toronto Canada, started a petition on Change.org Titled “Disqualify Armenia from Eurovision Song Contest for politicizing the venue”

Content of the petition:

This petition is addressed to: “European Broadcast Union (EBU),” “Eurovision Song Contest (ESC),” EBU president Jean-Paul Philippot, Chairman of ESC Reference Group Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling, EBU representative Jon Ola Sand.

Dear Jean-Paul Philippot, respected ESC organizers, Eurovision Song Contest is a venue that has a long history of bringing people from different cultures together, so that they can represent their country by performing a song on a global arena. ESC was always known as a venue which promotes peace and solidarity, appreciates diversity, and rejects hatred. But today, such image of ESC is under threat. As you already know, today in Stockholm, the representatives of Armenia used the stage of this prestigious venue for their political agenda. The have hanged the flag of unrecognized ” Nagorno Karabakh,” which is actually internationally recognized integral part of Azerbaijan Republic. Not only Armenian side have disregarded and disrespected international norms and principles, but they have also discredited ESC as being a politically neutral venue.

Dear Jean-Paul Phillippot, respected ESC organizers, According to ESC rules, particularly due to rule 1.1.2 (h), you have every right to disqualify Armenia from the contest. As this rule clearly states: ” The lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the Shows, the ESC as such or the EBUinto disrepute. No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted during the ESC. No swearing or other unacceptable language shall be allowed in the lyrics or in the performances of thesongs. No messages promoting any organization, institution, political cause or other, company, brand, products or services shall be allowed in the Shows and within any official ESC premises (i.e. at the venue, the Eurovision village, the Press Centre, etc.). A breach of this rule may result in disqualification.

If you do not penalize those who politicize ESC today, you might face bigger challenges tomorrow. Such as further attempts to use ESC stage for political agenda, loss of millions of viewers due to political inclination, negative word of mouth, damaged reputation to name a few. We strongly believe you will make the right decision and penalize Armenian representatives for breaching ESC rules and regulations and bringing ESC into disrepute.