Ukraine’s Eurovision singer suspended from competing
“I’m Alina Pash. The Pash stands for passion.”
The 28-year-old Ukrainian singer says she’s ready to represent her country at this year’s Eurovision in May, after winning a TV competition on Saturday.
Ukraine’s national broadcaster UA:PBC has now “suspended” its agreement for her to be the country’s representative at the song contest to be held in May.
Authorities are investigating a 2015 trip she made to Crimea, an area Russia seized control of in 2014.
The row over her Crimean visit comes as the world watches to see if Russia will invade Ukraine.
“We already have so many problems,” Alina tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. “The pandemic is one of them and it’s still with is. Do we need war on top? Are you serious?”
Who is Alina Pash?
Born in a small village in the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine, Alina rose to fame on her country’s version of The X Factor.
She says she’s been waiting “eight years” for the chance to represent her country at Eurovision – the world’s largest music competition – and won Vidbir, the national selection show.
Her song, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, mixes genres with her aim “to show the world that Ukrainian culture is beautiful”.
Despite a potential invasion by Russia, a significant amount of social media chat in Ukraine on Saturday night was about Alina Pash, Eurovision and her fellow competitors.
Why is Alina’s 2015 trip to Crimea controversial?
There are strict travel rules in place over how people enter Crimea – it’s not illegal for Ukrainians to visit but it can be frowned upon.
Alina has provided authorities with proof of how she entered the region but that’s now being scrutinised.
In a statement to Newsbeat, Ukraine’s public broadcaster says it’s “expecting the response of the State Border Guard Service” to “confirm the validity of the document”.
At the moment, her chance to compete at Eurovision is on hold and she says some people are claiming she’s un-Ukrainian.
“I’m a Ukrainian girl. I’m talking in Ukrainian and my song is about Ukraine,” she explains.
“There is no way that I can be against it.”
‘We’re not going to run’
The situation between Ukraine and Russia could change drastically before both countries share a stage together in the Italian city of Turin in May.
For the time being, Alina says some of her friends are already in fear and have their bags ready in case they need to go on the run.
“We need to be ready,” she says explaining that if Russia does invade she’ll be ready to “fight”.
“I believe in my message that we don’t need a war but if they (Russia) are going to push us we’re going to stand together.
“Artists like myself want to create something good. We want to create light and positive news but we’re living in this reality. We’re going to react. We’re not going to run.”
