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    KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A small Ukrainian nationalist party came under fire Wednesday after a high-profile member suggested a singer of African descent was a bad choice to represent the country in the Eurovision song contest.

    Pop star Gaitana, 32, who was born in Kiev to a Congolese father and Ukrainian mother, was chosen last week to represent Ukraine at this year's Eurovision contest in May in Baku, Azerbaijan.

    Gaitana, known for a strong voice and seductive outfits, will represent Ukraine with the English-language hit "Be My Guest."

    Yuri Sirotyuk, of the political party Svoboda, told the New Region agency on Monday that Gaitana was a bad choice because she was not authentically Ukrainian.

    "Yes, Gaitana sings well, but she does not represent our culture," Sirotyuk was quoted as saying. "Eurovision must be a show of national talents."

    "It looks like we don't want to show our face and Ukraine will be associated with a different continent, somewhere in Africa."

    Svoboda is not represented in parliament, but has been gaining popularity recently.

    Gaitana strongly condemned Sirotyuk's statement, saying it tarnishes Ukraine.

    "I am very much ashamed for such racist statements, because they destroy Ukraine's reputation in front of the whole world," Gaitana told reporters. "We are doing everything we can so that Ukraine becomes a part of the European family, a part of the world, so that nobody would be afraid to come here and have children here."

    Hanna Herman, an adviser to President Viktor Yanukovych, also spoke out against the statement, saying that Ukrainians should not be divided according to the color of their skin, their faith or their language.

    Ukraine's National Television, which held the contest where Gaitana was selected by a combined vote of viewers and jurors, demanded that Sirotyuk apologize to Gaitana.

    Sirotyuk told The Associated Press that he has nothing to apologize for.

     

    7 comments

    • Songsungpink
      Songsungpink  •  Portland, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      Can you imagine the backlash if someone in the U.S. said something like that?! LOL wow.
    • el gatopardo
      el gatopardo  •  3 mths ago
      'Ukrainians should not be divided according to the color of their skin, their faith or their language' - 99.9 % of Ukrainians are white, so that shouldn't be a problem.
      As far as language, I beg to disagree with Hanna Herman, the language is the glue that keeps a nation together, how can a Swahili speaking person represent Ukraine?
    • davidb
      davidb  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      I think it is quite appropriate that Ukranians should represent their country. I think it is quite inappropriate that people who do not look like Ukranians, who do not speak Ukranian, and who's culture does not represent Ukrane should go elsewhere. Lets try to stop the mongrelization somewhere.
      • I'm Suprised
        I'm Suprised 3 mths ago
        Hey #$%$ she was born in Kiev, it figures you would say that you are from Texas!
      • Smart John
        Smart John 3 mths ago
        Davidb, it figures. You are from Texas where bigotry and illiteracy reign supreme. Go hang somewhere. The world would be better off without you and your ilk.
      • ken
        ken 3 mths ago
        DavidB: You're as right as rain. We now live in an anti-racist (code word for anti-white) society. The god of "progressivism" is a jealous diety, and his minions are many (the 2 a/z/z-holes who commented before me are proof of that). Hopefully Eastern Europe will keep itself from the monkeys, but it's doubtful. We're doomed.
    • Dirk
      Dirk  •  South Milwaukee, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      Multiculturalism is a failed concept. The Svoboda Party simply speaks the truth as opposed to saying one thing and acting another way, which most countries exhibit, including the US. Kudos to them.
    • NomAnor
      NomAnor  •  3 mths ago
      Oh noes someone said words and it has hurt my feelings. Time to throw a tantrum and start crying until someone apologizes.
    • I'm Suprised
      I'm Suprised  •  3 mths ago
      They need to worry about the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster..#$%$
    • PatrickM
      PatrickM  •  Norfolk, Virginia  •  3 mths ago
      All othere nationalities and melted into the american culture. Some at home do there own thing and that is fine. On the street you need to be American. In the Ukrain I am sure they feel the same. Affricans aways want to change a countries culture, not meld to it. That is why they are always confrintational. White people never changed there culture in all the years of colonializm. They just let them do there thing. If things were so good in Africa, go back to Africa.
      • I'm Suprised
        I'm Suprised 3 mths ago
        White people have no culture
      • PatrickM
        PatrickM 3 mths ago
        Morrons, composite of all culture. When in Rome do as the Romans. Oh sorry, Forgot, you can't read! You can just keep rappin.
     Post a comment
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