Eva Rivas, one of the singers competeing in the Armenian national final, has to face criticism on homeground due to a supposed attempt of gaining more SMS votes. The singer will compete in the national selection on Sunday with the song Apricot stone.

The team of Evas Rivas is said to visit Armenian schools, universities and colleges asking the pupils to vote for them. They are promised that the money will be reimbursed if they send 20 SMS to number 9, which is the singer's draw in the running order.

Eva Rivas' producer is a businessman from Moscow and he has just come to Armenia to promote Eva's song. During an interview on an Armenian TV channel, he claimed that in 2008, Dima Bilan won the Eurovision Song Contest by "buying SMS votes in different countries" and the producer added that he considered it "a good way to win". He also claimed that he is in contanct with some Armenian political circles and they "want to win for sure".

Eva Rivas also faced criticism when during an interview to an Armenian channel, the host asked Eva Rivas if she would represent Armenia again if she did not win this year and the team answered: "If Armenians ask us very much, we will think about that". The remark was considered overconfident according to reactions from the public.

The Armenian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 will be held this Sunday, 14th February with nine acts competing.