Armenia: AMPTV decides to withdraw from Eurovision 2021

• The Armenian national broadcaster, AMPTV, has decided to withdraw from Eurovision 2021 and will not take part in the contest in Rotterdm.

  Sad news coming from Armenia as the country has decided to not take part in the contest in Rotterdam next May and will withdraw from the 65th edition of the Eurovision song contest.

  This unfortunate decision comes after the nation's withdrawal earlier from Junior Eurovision 2020, decision that pretty much has to do with the situation after the war in  Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) the martial law implemented due to the conflic and the overalll impact it has had on the country. 

  The Armenian national broadcaster explains the reasons for this year's withdrawal: 

  "After careful and detailed discussions, the national broadcaster AMPTV decided to withdraw from the Eurovision 2021 considering the latest events, the shortness of production time as well as other objective reasons that make the proper participation of Armenian at Eurovision 2021 impossible."

  EBU's Executive Supervisor of the contest  Mr. Martin Osterdahl stated:

  "The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) community is deeply sorry that AMPTV has decided to withdraw from participating in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Armenia have a great record at the Eurovision Song Contest and always bring excitement and quality performances to the stage. We understand the reasons for their withdrawal and we will miss their hard working and professional delegation in Rotterdam. We very much hope to welcome Armenia back in 2022."

  Thus the competing countries in Rotterdam go down to 40 after Armenia's withdrawal. 

   

  Armenia in Eurovision

  Armenia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 13 times since making its debut in 2006, when André became the first participant representing Armenia and was the first singer from the Caucasus region to compete at Eurovision.

  Armenia has reached the top 10 on seven occasions, with the country's best result in the contest being two fourth-place finishes; achieved by Sirusho with the song "Qélé, Qélé" (2008), and Aram Mp3 with "Not Alone" (2014). 2011 was the first year that Armenia failed to advance from the semi-final round.

  This was followed by the country withdrawing from the 2012 contest due to security concerns in the host city, Baku. In 2018 and 2019, Armenia consecutively failed to qualify from the semi-finals for the second and third time respectively.

  In 2020 Athena Manoukian won the national final of of  Depi Evratesil 2020 with her song 'Chains on you' but saw her Eurovision journey interrupted by the contest's cancellation due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

  Source: AMPTV