ROME -- The country to come out on top at this year’s Eurovision song contest was the Ukraine, with a song that has caused Russia to call for the cancellation of the verdict that crowned “1944” the winner.  The Ukrainians’ song, brought to life by singer Jamala who is of tartar origins herself, was dedicated to the deportation of tartars from Crimea under Stalin’s rule during the high days of the Soviet Union.

 The Crimean tartars are an ethnic minority of Islamic faith who, for the most part, were against the annexation of the peninsula by Moscow that happened in March 2014.

 Whilst Russia had been one of the favourites to win, they came in in third place, behind Australia, causing a battle to the final moment between representatives from both Ukraine and Russia in their voting.  Italy finished in sixteenth place with singer Francesca Michielin.

 On the results the Russian vice president to Crimea, Ruslan Balbek, said, “Today, even if you are the best vocalist in the world, your Russian citizenship denies you access to first place.”  He continued, “It seems that Jamala is following in the footsteps of the singer Ruslana.  The Eurovision victory, the dancing in Maidan, the anti-Russian hysteria, it’s all a ministerial position.  In a couple of years nobody will remember this singer.”

 The president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko recognised the winner on Twitter saying, “All of Ukraine thanks you from the bottom of their hearts, Jamala.” He also went on to praise her for her “incredible performance.”

 The spokesperson for Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova was less pleased however suggesting that, “to win the next Eurovision festival you’ll need a song against ‘the bloodthirsty’ Syrian President Bashar al Assad.”  Russia is currently allied with Assad in Syria, whilst many of the western powers and rebels remain opposed to him.

 Russian MP Elena Drapeko was another to speak out, blaming their lack of votes on anti-Russia sentiment throughout the other competing countries.  She said, “This is partly a consequence of the propaganda war of information that is being waged against Russia…There is a general demonisation of Russia – that we are all evil, that our athletes are doping, that our planes violate airspace.”

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