Belarus: BTRC disqualified from Eurovision 2021 !

Belarus: BTRC disqualified from Eurovision 2021 !
Friday, 26 March 2021

  • The EBU has announced that Belarus will not take part in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, as Galasy Zmesta's new submitted song was in breach of the contest's rules. 

    And then they were 39........ With a statement released this evening the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that Belarus will not be participating in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, as Galasy Zmesta's new song submitted by BTRC did not fulfill EBU's requirements for Eurovision songs. 

     

    The Story so far

    Earlier in March and after months of silence regarding the country's Eurovision 2021 entey, BTRC, announced Galasy ZMesta for Rotterdamm who will be performing their song Ya Nauchu Tebya (I’ll Teach You)

    As soon as the song was released a massive wave of reactions flooded the social media and the media in general with voices asking from EBU not to accept the Belarusian song due to its politicial content. 

    EBU taking in mind the song's lyrics and whether they comply with the EBU's rules for the contest which forbid enties with political content in their text, has called on Belarus requesting the amendment of the lyrics , removing any political content otherwise they country will be disqualified. 

    Following this development BTRC submitted a new song before the agreed deadline, the EBU and the Reference Group, reviewed the new entry and concluded that the song does not comply with the contests rules. Therefore Belarus cannot participate in the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. 

    Below you can read EBU's whole statement released this evening: 

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    After Belarus' disqualification a total of 39 countries will compete in this year's contest with 16 entries remaining in the 1st semi final in which Galasy ZMesta were set to compete.

     

    Belarus in Eurovision 

    Belarus has been participating in Eurovision since 2004 without missing an edition since its first participation. Its best placing so far was in 2007 with Dmitry Koldun and Work Your Magic which finished 6th in the final. This remains Belarus’ only top ten placement. Belarus also qualified for the final in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019. On the other hand its worst result came in 2006 with Polina Smolova who finished 22nd in the semi final.

    In 2018 Alekseev represented the country with his song Forever but unfortunantely didn’t make it to the final as he finished 16th in the 1st semi final. In the 2019 contest the country was represented by national final winner,Zena, who performed “Like it” in Tel Aviv . 

    Last year the duo Val won the national final with their song Da vidna  but never made it to the Eurovision 2020 stage as the contest was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

     

    News Source: EBU