Zhirinovsky: Don’t dare send a singer to Eurovision who doesn’t recognize Crimea!
The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) will demand that Channel One not send singer Sergey Lazarev to the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel because he does not recognize Crimea as Russian territory. This was stated today by LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky on the sidelines of the Russian State Duma, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“He said that Crimea is Ukraine, and refused to go there on tour and shout “Crimea is ours.” Will he represent Russia? We will be categorically against it and will send Ernst to Channel One a demand to send someone else. A person who will not oppose our foreign policy. Whoever says that Crimea is not ours is a criminal offense. And he will go there. He doesn't care about our country. He is not a Russian singer and performer,” Zhirinovsky said.
In 2016, Lazarev lost in the Eurovision final to the representative of Ukraine from the Mejlis Jamala. Previously, in an interview with Ukrainian media, he stated that he deliberately refused to participate in concerts that were held during the Russian Spring in support of the residents of Crimea on the peninsula. Lazarev claimed that he considered Crimea Ukrainian and justified the coup d'etat on the Maidan in Kyiv.
Zhirinovsky: Don't dare send a singer who doesn't recognize Crimea to Eurovision!