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Eurovision 2013: Azerbaijan probes Russian `nul points'
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/20/eurovision-2013-azerbaijan-probes-russian-nul-points/
22:08 20.05.2013
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has ordered an inquiry into why
his country gave Russia `nul points' at Saturday's Eurovision Song
Contest, the BBC reports.
Officials insist voters and the official Azerbaijan jury in fact gave
strong backing to the Russian entry.
Azerbaijan's state broadcaster suggested there may have been voting violations.
Russia gave the maximum 12 points to Azerbaijan's entry - a ballad by
Farid Mammadov.
Azerbaijan's ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, disclosed that
President Aliyev had ordered an investigation and votes were being
recounted.
He said that a large number of voters in Azerbaijan, submitting votes
by text message, had supported the Russian Federation.
`According to this data, Russia should have received 10 points from
Azerbaijan,' he said.
Camil Guliyev, head of the country's state broadcaster, said the
failure to give Russia any points was of serious concern.
`We sincerely hope that this incident, possibly initiated by certain
interest groups, will not cast a shadow over the brotherly relations
of the Russian and Azerbaijani peoples,' he said, without elaborating.
Azerbaijan, which hosted last year's contest, has traditionally tried
to maintain good relations with Moscow though there have been tensions
over energy in the past, the BBC writes.
The Telegraph recalls that last year Azerbaijan - which was hosting
the event - squabbled with neighbouring Iran after Tehran alleged the
country was hosting a gay pride event under the cover of the contest.
It reminds also that Armenia decided not to participate in the competition.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/20/eurovision-2013-azerbaijan-probes-russian-nul-points/
22:08 20.05.2013
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has ordered an inquiry into why
his country gave Russia `nul points' at Saturday's Eurovision Song
Contest, the BBC reports.
Officials insist voters and the official Azerbaijan jury in fact gave
strong backing to the Russian entry.
Azerbaijan's state broadcaster suggested there may have been voting violations.
Russia gave the maximum 12 points to Azerbaijan's entry - a ballad by
Farid Mammadov.
Azerbaijan's ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, disclosed that
President Aliyev had ordered an investigation and votes were being
recounted.
He said that a large number of voters in Azerbaijan, submitting votes
by text message, had supported the Russian Federation.
`According to this data, Russia should have received 10 points from
Azerbaijan,' he said.
Camil Guliyev, head of the country's state broadcaster, said the
failure to give Russia any points was of serious concern.
`We sincerely hope that this incident, possibly initiated by certain
interest groups, will not cast a shadow over the brotherly relations
of the Russian and Azerbaijani peoples,' he said, without elaborating.
Azerbaijan, which hosted last year's contest, has traditionally tried
to maintain good relations with Moscow though there have been tensions
over energy in the past, the BBC writes.
The Telegraph recalls that last year Azerbaijan - which was hosting
the event - squabbled with neighbouring Iran after Tehran alleged the
country was hosting a gay pride event under the cover of the contest.
It reminds also that Armenia decided not to participate in the competition.
From: A. Papazian