Ukraine threatens to arrest Russian Eurovision participant for visiting Crimea
Yulia Samoilova, representing Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest, upon arrival in Ukraine will immediately be prosecuted for visiting Crimea without consent from Kiev. Such measures were announced by the adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Anton Gerashchenko.
He cited excerpts from the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability up to 3-5 years in prison for visiting Crimea without the consent of Kiev.
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“On the day when Jamala triumphantly won Eurovision with a song about the oppression of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea, it became obvious that Russia would take revenge and use this fact for the purpose of a hybrid war against Ukraine.
I have no doubt that the issue of selecting a candidate from the Russian Federation for Eurovision was under the strict control of the Kremlin. And they could not help but know that Yulia Samoilova was on tour in the occupied Crimea, and, therefore, violated the legislation of Ukraine.
With this choice, the Russian Federation puts Ukraine before two options for a solution, each of which carries a certain danger to the internal political situation and will be used to create an atmosphere of hatred towards our country.
1. Do not allow Yulia Samoilova into Ukraine for the fact that she violated the rules for visiting the occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
This will be used by the Russian propaganda machine to fan hatred against our country, both on its territory and among Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territory. Like, look, a girl with disabilities, a singer, is not allowed into Ukraine, not allowing her to adequately represent Russia at the European song competition.
2. Let Julia Samoilova go to Ukraine, simultaneously bringing her to justice for violation of the state border. Thus, since we cannot make exceptions for anyone and thus encourage violation of the procedure for crossing the state border of Ukraine.
I think it's right to go for the second option.
Let him come, but is responsible for violations of the laws of Ukraine.
Such a solution will be optimal from various sides, since we do not prohibit a visit by a Russian contestant to Ukraine, but we will publicly show, using her example, that we are not going to leave the facts of violation of the state border of Ukraine unpunished.
I think that our Western partners will also treat this decision with understanding,” Gerashchenko wrote.
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