Belarus In The Eurovision Song Contest

Belarus has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 16 times since making its debut in . The country's first appearance in a final was in , with the song " Work Your Magic" performed by Dmitry Koldun, placing sixth. This remains Belarus' only top ten placement. Belarus also qualified for the final in , , , and .

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that the Belarusian broadcaster BTRC would be suspended from the union effective June 2021, which will prevent Belarus from participating in further Eurovision events unless BTRC is reintegrated or another broadcaster takes its position.

History

Belarus entered the contest in the same year that semi-finals began to be used to determine who would compete in the final. Belarus has qualified for the final six times: in with " Work Your Magic", in with "Butterflies", in with " Solayoh", in with " Cheesecake", in with " Story of My Life", and in with " Like It".

After the 2009 edition, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said that it was necessary to completely replace the current working team behind Belarus' Eurovision entry. Lukashenko pointed out his frustrations over divisions within the team.

Alexander Rybak, the winner of the contest representing , expressed an interest in composing an entry for his birth country Belarus. Rybak's song "Accent", performed by Milki, competed in the Belarusian national final for the contest, placing fourth.

Belarus originally planned to participate in the contest, and were set to perform in the first half of the first semi-final. On 9 March 2021, Galasy ZMesta was announced as the chosen entrant with the song "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)". However, the entry was disqualified on 11 March, as it was decided by the EBU that the song was in violation of the contest's rules. Belarusian broadcaster BTRC was ordered to submit either a new version of the song or an entirely new song that is compliant with the rules, or face disqualification. On 26 March, BTRC submitted the song "Pesnya pro zaytsev (Song about hares)" (russian: Песня про зайцев), also sung by Galasy ZMesta, as Belarus' new entry, however that song was also disqualified, again for the same reasons as their previous attempt, and Belarus was subsequently disqualified from the 2021 contest altogether.

On 28 May 2021, six days after the 2021 final, the EBU voted to suspend BTRC's membership. BTRC was given two weeks to respond before the suspension came into effect on 11 June, but there was no public response. The broadcaster was expelled from the EBU on 1 July, therefore losing the rights to broadcast and participate in the contest. It was subsequently stated that the expulsion would last for three years, however Belarus would have to re-apply for membership after it expires.

Participation overview

Related involvement

Heads of delegation

Commentators and spokespersons

Other shows

Photo gallery

File:Kolduneurovision2007.jpg, Dmitry Koldun in Helsinki ()
File:Ruslan Alekhno, Belarus, Eurovision 2008.jpg, Ruslan Alekhno in Belgrade ()
File:3+2 band 01.JPG, 3+2 in Oslo ()
File:Litesound Eurovision.jpg, Litesound in Baku ()
File:ESC2013 - Belarus 15.jpg, Alyona Lanskaya in Malmö ()
File:ESC2014 - Belarus 01.jpg, Teo in Copenhagen ()
File:20150515 ESC 2015 Uzari & Maimuna 7730.jpg, Uzari & Maimuna in Vienna ()
File:ESC2016 - Belarus 07.jpg, Ivan in Stockholm ()
File:Eurovision Song Contest 2017, Semi Final 2 Rehearsals. Photo 260.jpg, Naviband in Kyiv ()
File:ESC2018 - Belarus 01.jpg, Alekseev in Lisbon ()
File:Eurovision 2019 Belarus.jpg, Zena in Tel Aviv ()

See also

* Belarus in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
* Belarus in the Turkvision Song Contest

Notes

References

External links

EUROFEST.BY - Eurovision News in Belarus

OGAE Belarus - Eurovision fan club. The member of OGAE International Network

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Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Music competitions in Belarus