Ukraine’s security service says it has prepared documents to ban Russia’s contestant from this year’s Eurovision song contest, but that a final decision has not been made. Russia chose Yulia Samoylova to represent the country in 2017’s May 11-13 contest in Kiev. (Ekaterina Lyzlova, File/Associated Press)MOSCOW — The Eurovision song contest, nominally an apolitical festival of pop music confections and cheerfully tacky costumes, erupted into a political dispute Wednesday after Ukraine banned Russia’s contestant from entering the country. The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said in a statement that it would negotiate with Ukraine on Samoylova’s entry. Eurovision rules proscribe political song lyrics, but the annual contest can carry a strong political message.

Source: Washington Post March 22, 2017 12:36 UTC