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TV Bosses Probe Claim That Eurovision Countries Are Offering Bribes

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  • TV Bosses Probe Claim That Eurovision Countries Are Offering Bribes

    TV BOSSES PROBE CLAIM THAT EUROVISION COUNTRIES ARE OFFERING BRIBES IN EXCHANGE FOR VOTES

    Executive claims that Azerbaijan and four other countries have been
    using underhand tactics to win votes Allegations made that Azerbaijani
    delegate offered 'enough money to live for a year' in exchange for
    high scores

    By STEVE NOLAN

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2419782/TV-bosses-probe-claim-Eurovision-countries-offering-bribes-exchange-votes.html
    PUBLISHED: 06:47, 13 September 2013 | UPDATED: 12:16, 13 September 2013

    An investigation has been launched into claims that several countries
    have bought votes in the Eurovision Song Contest.

    An executive from an unnamed country's delegation, who had been
    contacted by several rival countries seeking to strike deals for high
    points, has made the claims in a Swedish newspaper this week.

    The executive, who worked on this year's contest in Malmo, Sweden,
    accused 2011 winners Azerbaijan of offering him 'enough money to live
    for a year' if they could arrange high jury points.

    Foul play? An executive from an unnamed Eurovision Song Contest
    country has claimed that Azerbaijan is one of several countries
    offering bribes for country's votes. Azerbaijan entrant in 2013 Farid
    Mammadov is pictured

    It is also claimed that members of the Azerbaijani delegation handed
    out free mobile phone SIM cards to Lithuanian students and paid them
    to vote.

    Speaking in Swedish newspaper Skanska Dagbladet, the source claims
    to have been contacted by a member of the Macedonian team hoping to
    strike a vote swap deal at the semi-final stage.

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    The source claims to have been offered 'enough money to live for a
    year' over a coffee meeting with an Azerbaijani delegate in return
    for high jury points.

    According to the Daily Mirror, the executive added that there are
    at least three other countries who have attempted to strike similar
    deals behind the scenes.

    Controversy: The source made allegations against Azerbaijan, whose
    2011 winning act are pictured, left. UK entrant Bonnie Tyler, right,
    also claims to have overheard Russians asking other countries where
    were the votes that they paid for

    UK entrant Bonnie Tyler, who came 19th out of 26 finalists in the
    competition back in May, also told a French newspaper that she
    overheard Russians asking why they didn't get votes that they had
    paid for the morning after the contest.

    Sietse Bakker, Eurovision Song Contest Event Supervisor, told the
    Mirror that the European Broadcasting Union is now investigating.

    He said: 'We have a very clear policy on such speculations.

    'First of all, we always look into the story. And if we would find
    actual proof that the rules have been breached, we will impose firm
    sanctions and do everything we can to avoid it in the future.'

    The newspaper added that Eurovision experts fear that even though an
    investigation into corruption has been promised, no real action will
    be taken.

    Read more:
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2419782/TV-bosses-probe-claim-Eurovision-countries-offering-bribes-exchange-votes.html#ixzz2emsahfBy
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook




    From: A. Papazian
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