Azerbaijan may be banned from participating in Eurovision contest for up to three years

PanARMENIAN.Net - Eurovision's Reference Group which consists of eight members has met in Oslo and discussed the issue of interrogating Azeri citizens who voted for Armenian singers Inga and Anush Arshakyans during Eurovision 2009 contest, Eurovision's Executive Director Svante Stockselius said. A decision by the group will be sent to the European Broadcasting Union's Television Committee, which will announce a final decision on Azerbaijan in the coming days.

Stockselius said Azerbaijan could be cleared of the charges or it could be found to have violated Eurovision rules and either fined or banned from participating in the contest for up to three years.



Reference Group consists of delegates from Russia, Serbia, and Norway, Spain, Holland, Ireland, and two representatives from Sweden, Radio Free Europe reports.



Earlier Azerbaijani press disseminated information that the country's National Security Ministry had interrogated 43 citizens who voted for Armenian singers during contest. Azerbaijani official circles deny such information.