Eurovision amends rules, decries alleged pressure on voters
Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have
decided to change its rules, but ``will not sanction Azerbaijan``
for what they called ``officially harassing citizens`` who voted
for arch-foe Armenia in the May contest, Radio Liberty (RFE/RL`s)
Azerbaijani Service reports.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the song contest, was considering fining Azerbaijan or banning it from the contest for up to three years for allegedly violating contest rules.
The EBU said in a statement that its ruling body, the Reference Group, acknowledges that some Azerbaijanis who voted for the Armenian entry to the contest were called to the National Security Ministry.
The union also decried ``the breach in privacy`` of Azerbaijanis who voted via mobile phone for the Armenian song and were reported to the government.
The EBU says the Reference Group decided, at a recent meeting in Oslo, to amend Eurovision Song Contest rules so that the country`s participating television broadcaster is liable ``for any disclosure of information which could be used to identify voters.`` The union said the rule change is aimed at ensuring that the privacy of Eurovision contest voters is protected. It added that its previous rules put the obligation for protection of voters` privacy on the respective telecommunications companies.
The EBU said it does not have the ability to penalize the telecom companies but can now, in future contests, impose sanctions against the television broadcaster.
The Reference Group is made up of delegates from Norway, Russia, and Serbia -- the last three winners of the Eurovision contest -- along with Spain, Holland, Ireland, and two members from Sweden.
The report also noted that Rovshan Nasirli, a 25-year-old Azerbaijani, was summoned to the country`s National Security Ministry on August 12 to explain why he voted for an Armenian song in the contest broadcast from Moscow. The officials reportedly told Nasirli that his vote for Armenia was a matter of national security and requested a written explanation before releasing him.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. A lengthy war ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the song contest, was considering fining Azerbaijan or banning it from the contest for up to three years for allegedly violating contest rules.
The EBU said in a statement that its ruling body, the Reference Group, acknowledges that some Azerbaijanis who voted for the Armenian entry to the contest were called to the National Security Ministry.
The union also decried ``the breach in privacy`` of Azerbaijanis who voted via mobile phone for the Armenian song and were reported to the government.
The EBU says the Reference Group decided, at a recent meeting in Oslo, to amend Eurovision Song Contest rules so that the country`s participating television broadcaster is liable ``for any disclosure of information which could be used to identify voters.`` The union said the rule change is aimed at ensuring that the privacy of Eurovision contest voters is protected. It added that its previous rules put the obligation for protection of voters` privacy on the respective telecommunications companies.
The EBU said it does not have the ability to penalize the telecom companies but can now, in future contests, impose sanctions against the television broadcaster.
The Reference Group is made up of delegates from Norway, Russia, and Serbia -- the last three winners of the Eurovision contest -- along with Spain, Holland, Ireland, and two members from Sweden.
The report also noted that Rovshan Nasirli, a 25-year-old Azerbaijani, was summoned to the country`s National Security Ministry on August 12 to explain why he voted for an Armenian song in the contest broadcast from Moscow. The officials reportedly told Nasirli that his vote for Armenia was a matter of national security and requested a written explanation before releasing him.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. A lengthy war ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
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