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EBU fines Armenia for refusing to participate at Eurovision Song Contest in Baku

03 May 2012 02:59 (UTC +04:00)

According to the decision of the EBU, Armenia will make a full payment defined for participation at the contest, as well as will pay half of that amount as a penalty. In addition, the Public Television of Armenia will have to air the final of "Eurovision".

According to EBU in the case of failure to comply the decision, Armenia may be removed from the "Eurovision" in 2013. At the same time representatives of the EBU stressed that the decision on penalty was issued in accordance with the rules of the contest and reasons why Armenia refused to participate were not taken in account.

Armenia officially refused to take part at "Eurovision" on March 7. Earlier, a group of Armenian artists sent an open letter to the Public Television of the country, calling for a boycott of the contest. The reason for this was the death of an Armenian soldier who was supposed to be killed by Azerbaijani sniper. Subsequently, it was revealed that a soldier shot killed by Armenian colleague.