Eurovision chief says Russia ban stands for ‘ultimate values of democracy’

Speaking to Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus on Radio 4, Martin Osterdahl says contest is about uniting through music'

The Eurovision chief has said Russia's ongoing ban from the international song contest has been hard but the event should stand for the basic and ultimate values of democracy".

Russia was banned from competing in the Eurovision song contest in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's national broadcasters subsequently suspended their memberships of the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the show, preventing them from taking part in future contests.