The Ukrainian delegation at Eurovision 2024 was fined for T-shirts with the inscription «Free Azovstal Defenders»

Representatives from Ukraine at Eurovision 2024 were fined for wearing «Free Azovstal Defenders» t-shirts / Screenshot from the video

Representatives of the Ukrainian delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 received a fine for wearing T-shirts with the inscription «Free Azovstal Defenders», which contained a call to free the defenders of Azovstal from Russian captivity.

The representative of Ukraine at Eurovision 2024, Alyona Alyona, said this on her Instagram page.

According to the singer, security checked all clothes at the contest, as any inscriptions and brand names were prohibited. If an inscription was found on the clothes, it was asked to be removed or it was sealed with black tape.

Before going to the green room, the representatives of the Ukrainian delegation put on t-shirts with the inscription «Free Azovstal Defenders», hiding them under other clothes.

«We knew that when they would show the replays of the performances of all the artists, they would also show the delegation itself. Therefore, when the camera approached us, our team quickly opened up and showed our appeal to the whole world. We took a lot of risks, but everything worked out. They fought back simply with a financial fine,» the singer said.

According to her, the difficulties in the Ukrainian delegation began at the stage of creating T-shirts: the printers either did not work or refused to print with such a text. Finally, after the fifth call, one of the printers agreed to help.

The representative of Ukraine also added that she was «incredibly glad» that they managed to remind the world about Ukrainian prisoners of war.

It will be recalled that the representatives of Switzerland won the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. Representatives of Ukraine Jerry Heil and Alyona Alyona took 3rd place in the final.