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22Mar17

Ukraine's ban for Russia's Eurovision contestant 'a moment of truth' for Europe – diplomat

Ukrainian Security Service's entry ban for Russia's Eurovision contestant Yulia Samoilova is a watershed for the European community, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

"I think it is a moment of truth for the European community: whether it will toe the line of Ukraine's Security Service and will motivate Ukrainian radicals to conduct further 'exploits' … or will prove that Europe with its fundamental values, which Ukrainian politicians have been always supporting in words, is still alive," Zakharova said.

"Ukrainian Security Service's might has been aimed at proving the postulate 'one law for all'," she said. "This thesis has somehow worked against the Russian singer. Kiev is not going to demonstrate a principled position towards other people, including Ukrainian nationals."

The Russian diplomat reiterated that the SBU had drafted a corresponding resolution and made up excuses for restricting freedom of expression, hampering the operation of Russian media outlets in Ukraine.

"I have no idea who is standing in for master in Kiev - the SBU, president, Rada, or people sealing off entrances to banks," Zakharova said. "But someone has to make a first step towards realizing the utopian nature of current developments in that country."

Earlier on Wednesday, reports came that the SBU barred Russian singer Yulia Samoilova from entering Ukraine in the next three years. The SBU claims that performing in Crimea in the summer of 2015, Samoilova violated Ukrainian government's resolution obliging foreigners to receive permits for visits to the Black Sea peninsula.

[Source: Itar Tass, Moscow, 22Mar17]
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