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Ukraine said Samoylova could not travel to Kiev for the
Eurovision finals, which began on Tuesday, because she had
performed in Crimea in 2015, after Russia annexed the peninsula
from Ukraine.
Samoylova performed on Tuesday to the delight of thousands in
the port city of Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet.
"This (Eurovision) is not a song contest, this is not a contest
of singers. This is a contest of politicians," spectator
Lyudmila Dobrovolskaya told Reuters Television. "We do not like
such a contest."
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but most countries still consider
it part of Ukraine. Samoylova also sang "Victory Day", a Soviet
song composed for World War Two celebrations.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of discriminating against Samoylova
and of breaching the contest's rules.
Russia rejected two compromises suggested by Eurovision's
organizers to allow Samoylova to perform, and its state
broadcaster said it would boycott this year's contest.
Samoylova avoided mention of Eurovision and thanked the crowd in
the central Nakhimov Square for inviting her on the symbolic
day.
"I came here today with great pleasure and great joy," Samoylova
said in comments broadcast by Russia's First Channel state
television. "It is a great honor for me to perform here on May
9, and I will try and share this joy with you."
The Eurovision contest attracts millions of television viewers
across Europe. For many countries, especially former Communist
states in Europe, performing well in the event is seen as a
matter of national pride.
(Reporting by Oleg Fedorchenko; Writing by Alexander Winning;
Editing by Richard Lough)
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