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| GEORGIOS KEFALAS/EPA |
The letter, led by the digital media project Hashtag Eurovision and inspired by Stuart MacLean’s documentary “Eurovision is Dying… It Can Only Blame Itself!”, questions the EBU’s consistency in banning Russia from European and global competitions after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while continuing to allow Israel to take part in Eurovision.
In the text, the signatories state that Israel “occupies, oppresses and kills” and refer to estimates of tens of thousands of Palestinian children killed since the beginning of the occupation, arguing that Israel’s continued participation in Eurovision is incompatible with the values of human rights and justice that the contest claims to uphold.
They also write that they cannot “stand by in the face of ethnic cleansing or genocide” and accuse the EBU of choosing to “live inside a utopian bubble” instead of facing the reality on the ground. The letter also criticises the withdrawal of press accreditations from professionals whose careers “deserve the utmost respect”, stressing that the role of independent media is not to “fuel the illusion” around a contest “it has already betrayed”.
The letter expresses full support for the broadcasters RTVSLO (Slovenia), RTÉ (Ireland), AVROTROS (Netherlands), RÚV (Iceland) and RTVE (Spain) for their decision to no longer be complicit in the current situation. The signatories urge all broadcasters to follow this example, placing human rights above political considerations or institutional image.
The open letter was sent to the EBU ahead of the 95th EBU General Assembly, taking place on 4–5 December 2025, with a request that it be shared among EBU leadership and Member broadcasters and considered in their discussions.
The open letter can be read and signed at: https://tally.so/r/nWyZXL
