Alina Pash will not represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2022
Alina Pash has announced that she has withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 after accusations that she visited Crimea illegally in 2015
Alina Pash won the Ukrainian selection Vidbir 2022 just five days ago. She should have represented Ukraine at Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song "Tini Zabutykh Predkiv", but not anymore.
Alina has just issued a statement on her Instagram, where she announces her withdrawal from Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Translation of Alina Pash's Instagram post
I am a citizen of Ukraine, I follow the laws of Ukraine, I try to bring the traditions and values of Ukraine to the world. What this story turned out to be is not at all what I put into my song.
I am an artist, not a politician. I do not have an army of PR people, managers and lawyers to resist all these attacks and pressure, hacking my social media accounts and threats. And neither do I have them to resist the completely unacceptable wording that people use without the situation and forgetting the dignity of all Ukrainian citizens.
I don’t want this virtual war and hate. The main war now is the foreign one which came to my country in 2014.
I don’t want to be part of this dirty story anymore. With a heavy heart, I withdraw my candidacy as a representative of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest. I am incredibly sorry.
We will contact UA:PBC and sign all of the necessary documents.
On a side note, I want to thank everyone who supports me and helps me, who listens to my song and the important message, and not gossip about me. Thank you!
The story continues with you and it is up to us to decide what it will be ❤️
Let's unite! Now it is more important than ever! 💛🇺🇦💙
The statement comes after the Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC refused to sign the agreement for her to represent Ukraine at Eurovision Song Contest 2022, while they are investigating a trip she made to Crimea in 2015, an area Russia illegally occupied and annexed in 2014.
In Ukraine, there are strict rules that must be followed if people wants to visit the Crimean peninsula. Traveling to Crimea is only allowed with a permission and via Ukrainian checkpoints. It is illegal to travel to Crimea via Russia.
The documents required for her to travel to Crimea were published in Ukrainian media, after which the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service stated that they had not issued the documents, raising questions about the legitimacy of the documents.
Earlier today, the Ukrainian broadcaster announced that they will investigate the authenticity of the documents. They also stated that The Supervisory Board of the Public Television of Ukraine (consisting of members of the Ukrainian Parliament) would meet and discuss the participation of Alina Pash, and announce their decision on Friday 18 February.
The Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC will now have to decide who they will send to Eurovision 2022 in Turin instead of Alina.
The Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC later issued a press release:
Press release from UA:PBC
Today, on 16 February, the organizing committee of the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 held an extraordinary meeting where the decision to cease the participation of Alina Pash in the national selection was made. This is because of establishing the fact that the artist’s representative falsified a certificate provided to UA: PBC. The artist agreed with this decision of the organizing committee.
According to the rules of the national selection, UA: PBC has the right to terminate the participation of a participant in case of submission of false information.
We are very sorry that the representative of the artist acted irresponsibly.
UA: PBC is guided by the laws of Ukraine and the national selection rules only.
Under the rules, should UA: PBC cease the participation in the national selection of a participant decided/announced the winner of the selection, UA: PBC has the right to decide on the representative of Ukraine at the Contest from among the other finalists of the national selection.
Alina Pash
Alina Ivanivna Pash is an Ukranian singer and rapper who rose to fame after competing at the Ukranian X Factor.
At a very young age she was already taking part in vocal festivals and even went on to have private vocal lessons.
Her national breakthrough happened in 2015 where she finished third in the X Factor. After that, it was in 2018 that she released her first single.
Since then, Alina has released multiple singles, albums and worked within the world of fashion.
Ukraine in Eurovision Song Contest
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in Eurovision Song Contest.
Out of 16 participations Ukraine has:
