Belarus: BTRC confirms that Val will not return in Eurovision 2021

Belarus: BTRC confirms that Val will not return in Eurovision 2021
Saturday, 26 September 2020

  • BTRC, the Belarusian national broadcaster has confirmed that the duo Val will not return in Eurovision 2021 to represent the country. 

    Through a statement released on Telgram Post, BTRC, ruled out any return of the group VAL at Eurovision 2021 saying: 

    The VAL group will really not go to Eurovision 2021 and this will happen not because something “broke” on BT or the censorship is raging, but because the artists of the VAL group have no conscience.

    Previously, the duo during an interviw to IL Interesting people, expressed criticism on the way the national broadcaster treated them after their national final victory, talking of a behavior by BTRC that aimed to control their interviews and performances. Further more they accussed the broadcaster of preventing "non-conformist" act to take part in past Belarusian national selections. 

    On the other hand, BTRC, answered back saying: 

    Especially for the "intimidated" Vlad we explain. The contract, which is concluded between Belteleradiocompany and the representative of Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest, does not contain any requirements for participation or non-participation in concerts, be it public or private. In standard contracts, it is purely about the preparation and participation in the competition, participation in television projects is provided. But we did not contact the VAL group for any reason. We would like to emphasize that Belteleradiocompany has nothing to do with the organization of Slavianski Bazaar concerts, as well as state events with the participation of artists. Sometimes we act as a broadcaster at such events. And this is the maximum. We do not care where you performed, perform and will perform.

    Regarding their comment on "non conformist" acts the TV channel stated: 

    Note that the degree of your “informality” surprised even Europe. According to the bookmakers, if you had passed Eurovision, you would have taken the penultimate place on it in the two semifinals. This is first. Secondly, so that even non-format participants, whom the Belarusian jury cannot “appreciate” at their true worth, have a greater chance of getting to Eurovision, for the first time in history we have brought together European experts in the jury, who, we recall, did not see you as the winner of the selection.

    And closing its counter answer the station says about BTRC's distancing from Val: 

    The “remote” work of BT consisted in the fact that we had negotiations with some of the best directors of Eurovision. As a result: the performance for the artists was to be directed by the director of the winner of Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst and the performances of Austria at Eurovision 2018 (3rd place) Marvin Dietman, and the famous Cypriot Alex Panayi was to become the vocal teacher. At the same time, Belteleridiocompany was ready to pay for the work of specialists, which is not at all necessary under a contract. And this is not to mention the numerous broadcasts and diaries of Eurovision, which have become additional PR for the artists.

    We did it all from the heart. In vain.

    The dispute between Val and BTRC is one more case added in the country's current political crisis. With BTRC being a state controlled station that has taken Lukashenko's side , many former Eurovision participants have supported the protests against the doubted recent national election results. 

     

    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 . 

    This 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. 

     

    Source: Eurovoix/ BTRC

    Cover photo: radiotimes.com