Russia’s Gay Stance And Ukraine Get Eurovision Entry Booed

May 8, 2014

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As winners of the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Russia’s Tolmachevy Sisters are being eyed as strong potential 2014 winners by blogs and pundits back home, but after qualifying for the final of Eurovision 2014 on Tuesday, the 17-year-old twin sisters were faced with a barrage of boos.

As BBC reports, while the sisters initially received a warm reception for their song, Shine, during Tuesday’s semi-final in the capital of host country Denmark, the news that they had progressed further in the contest was met with disapproval by sections of the 10,000-strong audience.

In fact, experts are now saying that Russia could suffer in this year’s instalment of the long-running European singing competition as a result of their role in the current crisis in Ukraine and the country’s notorious stance on gay rights, which have received widespread international criticism.

However, back home the twins, Anastasia and Maria, who hail from the Russian city of Kursk, have become the most-discussed celebrities on Russia’s blogosphere and on social media, with Twitter abuzz with the hashtag #theTolmachevySisters, and many predicting that Shine will become a hit.

Back in February, New Wave legends Blondie added themselves to the growing list of popular artists who are boycotting Russia, tweeting a photo of an offer made to them to play as part of the country’s Winter Olympic celebrations with the words “PASS – HUMAN RIGHTS” scrawled on it.

We take on the Tolmachevy Sisters in ‘The Best And Worst Of Eurovision 2014’!

Watch: Russia Booed at Eurovision 2014