During the first semi-final, the Armenian representative Iveta Mukuchyan was seen waving the flag of Nagorno-Karabakh, a landlocked region in the South Caucasus.

After the broadcast of the semi-final, lots of tensions arose on the internet complaining about this action which was bringing politics to the competition.

Iveta was asked about the incident during the semi-final 1 qualifiers press conference and her comment was “I want peace. I put up the flag because I want people to concentrate on that. I just want peace in this world”.

Nevertheless, the EBU released a really strict statement over this matter, leaving open the subject of consequences the Armenian broadcaster might face.

EBU’s statement over Nagorno-Karabakh flag

https://www.facebook.com/EBU.HQ/posts/1045195205572896

Armenia is represented this year by Iveta Mukuchyan and her song Lovewave and they have passed through to the final this Saturday!


Michalis Vranis is the General Manager of ESCToday. Since 2007 he writes about Eurovision, media, technology, voting and the wider political and cultural issues surrounding the contest.