After criticism over her planned performances in Russia, singer Maruv will no longer be traveling to Tel Aviv. It's not the first time Ukraine's Eurovision pick has stirred political controversy.
Young Belarusians take stock
Most critics, however, have said the song derides the opposition movement, its ongoing protests and the West, which the Lukashenko government has accused of orchestrating the demonstrations. Satirizing opposition demands, band leader Dmitry Butakov sings: The free world cannot be stopped/the unfashionable, unworthy reactionary must go.
In recent days, the song had received some 5,800 likes and more than 40,000 dislikes and angry comments on the ESC official YouTube page, with more than half a million views. It has since been taken down from the site. It was expected, understandable, Butakov told news agency Reuters. I think our song is compliant. It s them who think it is not. Belarus state broadcaster has so far not commented on the song or the ESC decision to disqualify it from the competition.