Azerbaijan to perform in first semi-final of Eurovision 2017
By Laman Ismayilova
Kiev hosted a draw ceremony to define participant countries for the semi-finals of the Eurovision 2017 song contest.
Thus, Azerbaijan will act in the first semi-final, which will also see performances of Montenegro, Finland, Georgia, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Albania and Australia.
Cyprus, Slovenia, Armenia, Moldova, Czech Republic, Latvia, Iceland, Greece, Poland will perform in the second semi-final.
The Big Five and the host country are directly qualified to the final. Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom will vote in Semi-Final 1. Germany, Ukraine and France will vote in Semi-Final 2.
Forty-three countries will participate in the 2017 contest that will take place in the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev, following Ukraine's victory at the 2016 contest in Stockholm with the song "1944", performed by Jamala.
This will be the second time the contest has taken place in Kiev, after 2005, and the fourth Eurovision event.
The contest is expected to consist of two semi-finals on May 9 and 11 May and the final on 13 May 2017.
Diana Hajiyeva will represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision 2017 Song Contest.
The decision was made at a jury meeting on the Eurovision song contest. Diana Hajiyeva, known by her stage name Dihaj, is a singer based in Baku who is known more recently for her experimental-pop style of music.
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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova
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