The three Latvian Eurovision participants in Riga, who together make up the group F.L.Y., were mad when they learned what happened in Norway, but don't think it will affect the Latvian amount of points to the Norwegian participant Jostein Hasselgård on May 24.
In an interview with tabloid news paper VG they said: “Everyone understands that the blunder committed by NRK is not Jostein's fault. If he'd like, we can take him out on the town, drink some vodka and show him the real Riga.”
One of the members, Martins Freimanis, was everything but pleased with Saturday's occurrence: “It made me really upset to read about the Norwegian final. What is the compentency level of your state-owned television, if I might ask? I'm appalled at how disrespectfully we were treated.”
Yana Kay, who actually is half Russian herself, can also see positive aspects with the matter: “To look on the bright side, this makes Norwegians and Latvians learn more about each other. After all, we are almost neighbours.”
The last one of the group members, Lauris Reiniks, contributed as well: “The huge majority of Latvians understand that Jostein Hasselgård didn't have anything to do with NRK's interval act. Latvian media have been very clear on the fact that this is a result of a producer.”
They end the conversation by comforting Norwegian Eurovision fans: “In this country, we usually don't hold a grudge against anyone for very long. He will compete with the same criteria as the rest of us.”
Lauris Reiniks and Martins Freimanis are both hosts for popular programmes on Latvian television.
