Belarus’ Eurovision broadcaster BTRC has been expelled from the European Broadcasting Union. This rules out a Belarusian participation in Italy 2022 and makes Belarus’ return to the Eurovision Song contest and the Junior Eurovision Song contest extremely unlikely.
Let’s take a look at what Belarus has brought to the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004.
The Belarusian national final for the Eurovision Song contest 2013 took place on 7 December 2012. Ten songs participated in the competition and the winner was selected through a jury and a public televote. The song Rhythm of Love performed by Alyona Lanskaya was appointed as the winner.
In January 2013, BTRC announced the possibility that Alyona Lanskaya could change her song, the rules specified that the winning artist was free to change the song if they were able to find a more suitable alternative for Eurovision.
In March 2013 BTRC announced that Alyona Lanskaya would perform the song Solayoh at the 2013 contest, which officially replaced Rhythm of Love as the Belarusian entry. Solayoh was written by Marc Paelinck and Martin King.
At the ESC Belarus qualified from the first semi-final and in the Grand Final Belarus finished in 16th place scoring 48 points.
Willem Botha from South Africa was the male backing singer