Belarus BELARUS 2021 - not taking part

[escYOUnited]

 

[crashworld]

I'll say disqualification but disguised in the form of withdrawal since the artist is very insistent in not amending the song, so I presume they will not even entertain the idea of replacing it with a new song. And I doubt EBU will give Belarus additional time to find a new entrant.

 

[Fluke]

Please, don't withdraw! We've had enough departures as it is. I want to see this performed in the ESC. I want to see the commentators' awkward attempts at introducing them, and the descriptions of the entry in the press. I want to see them booed out. I want to see them embarrased at getting last place. I want them to make a big fuss about how they were unjustly hated for political reasons.

 

[Schlagerman1]

Please, don't withdraw! We've had enough departures as it is. I want to see this performed in the ESC. I want to see the commentators' awkward attempts at introducing them, and the descriptions of the entry in the press. I want to see them booed out. I want to see them embarrased at getting last place. I want them to make a big fuss about how they were unjustly hated for political reasons.

I don't want to see them booed out actually. A silent response is much stronger than being booed IMO. Being booed may only fuel the strong patriotic and nationalistic feelings among the government supporters in Belarus. A silent treatment with the White-red-white flags is shown in stronger solidarity to the right cause than fueling the wrong side. I know the flags will probably be banned at the event, but you can always be a dutch person saying "Oh, this is an austrian flag.....yes this is the first semi...oh, they are not competing tonight....right...hehe....*RUNS INSIDE THE BUILDING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE*"

 

[Chalphon]

I'm so hoping for Belarus to descide to send either "Kiss n' Gun" or "Give You Love" instead. Either of those songs would go straight into my top 5 this year...

 

[John1]

can they just announce whether they're DSQ or not please omg

 

[Mrm]

It seems March 17th is the deadline?

 

[theditz83]

This deadline moves more than my expectations of the UK entry in the run up to March

 

[A-lister]

can they just announce whether they're DSQ or not please omg

I really feel like EBU don't want to disqualify any country it seems, I dunno how much dirt a broadcaster needs to be involved in for them to even entertain the thought?

Seems like something is going on behind the doors though, I hope at least if Belarus isn't willing to change anything that EBU slaps a big fat fine on their broadcaster (which should be sanctioned anyways). The more costly Lukashenko's war on his own people will become, the better.

 

[Romeo]

Wasn’t the deadline yesterday? I assume the EBU granted an extension but I assumed they would have made it known.

I very much see this as a “we don’t wanna put in” situation. Politically motivated song or they won’t participate

 

[AlekS]

Probably the EBU extended the deadline until next Monday for them (+ a fine), just like they did for us in 2010. Tho our case was "a little bit" different.

 

[FilipFromSweden]

I mean I get the joke here lol , but I hope they won't get that privilege, it was odd already with S&M back in 2006 (and I think something like that never happened again when a country withdrew).

That was iconic though since the one who gave away the S&M votes said ''we'll have the best song next year!'' but overall you're right

 

[Elina UA]

I really feel like EBU don't want to disqualify any country it seems

 

[BorisBubbles]

This. Belarus paying their entry fee is the only reason why the EBU hasn't kicked them out yet. I suspect the EBU is hoping for a Belarus withdrawal, but as far as DQ'ing them outright goes, they can only do that if Belarus REALLY give them no other choice (such as missing their adjusted submission deadline)

 

[Mimmon]

Probably the EBU extended the deadline until next Monday for them (+ a fine), just like they did for us in 2010. Tho our case was "a little bit" different.

Just out of curiousity how much was the fine back then....

 

[DanielLuis]

This. Belarus paying their entry fee is the only reason why the EBU hasn't kicked them out yet. I suspect the EBU is hoping for a Belarus withdrawal, but as far as DQ'ing them outright goes, they can only do that if Belarus REALLY give them no other choice (such as missing their adjusted submission deadline)

I mean, wouldn't the EBU still make them pay the participation fee as a sort of fine if they were disqualified? Genuine question here

 

[Ianp16]

Not gonna happen is it.

 

[BorisBubbles]

I mean, wouldn't the EBU still make them pay the participation fee as a sort of fine if they were disqualified? Genuine question here

I have no idea. Depends on how much the fine is compared to the participation fee. Then again, I doubt the EBU could fine Belarus if they kick them out themselves. Like... you can't do esc and *also* you have to pay us more money? even for them.

 

[Schlagerman1]

I mean, wouldn't the EBU still make them pay the participation fee as a sort of fine if they were disqualified? Genuine question here

The participation fee is already paid I believe, the fine would be wastly bigger if they were disqualified. I don't remember the sum, but when Georgia was disqualified in 2009, it was quite a hefty fine, so it does hurt to withdraw late or getting disqualified.

 

[A-lister]

I have no idea. Depends on how much the fine is compared to the participation fee. Then again, I doubt the EBU could fine Belarus if they kick them out themselves. Like... you can't do esc and *also* you have to pay us more money? even for them.

Actually, I'm pretty sure all broadcasters sign onto following the rules, so if they don't want to do that, I still think they can be fined.

See it as a contract to rent an apartment, you pay the deposit but then you break stuff, you think you'll get the deposit back? And if you did more harm than that (like seriously breaking something), you might also have to pay a fine.

 

[DanielLuis]

Actually, I'm pretty sure all broadcasters sign onto following the rules, so if they don't want to do that, I still think they can be fined.

See it as a contract to rent an apartment, you pay the deposit but then you break stuff, you think you'll get the deposit back? And if you did more harm than that (like seriously breaking something), you might also have to pay a fine.

Yeah, it does make sense to be fined if they face disqualification for what is essentially rule-breaking