Belarus was given boot from Eurovision over ‘no dissent’ songs

The band Galasy ZMesta performed Belarus’s second Eurovision entry, which was deemed to be overly political. Photograph: BelTA/Reuters

Belarus had to be banned from this year’s Eurovision after it repeatedly submitted songs calling for “no dissent” despite the risk of the decision politicising the music competition, the head of the event’s organising body has said.

Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the industry body that produces the annual international competition, said a stand needed to be taken with Belarus cracking down on anti-government protests, while also conceding the danger of stoking controversy over future country submissions. Suspicions have long been aired over the possible political or

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