Georgia in The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 - Withdrawal and Return

Withdrawal and Return

Georgia's broadcaster, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), originally announced in August 2008 that they would not be participating at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. This was due to the 2008 South Ossetia war, involving Georgia and Eurovision host Russia, and in protest to Russia's foreign policies. GPB went on to say that they refuse to "participate in a contest organised by a country that violates human rights and international laws".

GPB later reversed their decision to boycott the contest in December 2008. This was after talks between GPB and the contest organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), as well as the victory for Georgia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008, in which Russia gave their top marks to Georgia.

In February 2009, an online campaign "Boycott MoscowVision" emerged calling on the public broadcaster not to participate in the song contest.

Read more about this topic:  Georgia In The Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Famous quotes containing the words withdrawal and/or return:

    A separation situation is different for adults than it is for children. When we were very young children, a physical separation was interpreted as a violation of our inalienable rights....As we grew older, the withdrawal of love, whether that meant being misunderstood, mislabeled or slighted, became the separation situation we responded to.
    Roger Gould (20th century)

    O God of our flesh, return us to Your wrath,
    Let us be evil could we enter in
    Your grace, and falter on the stony path!
    Allen Tate (1899–1979)