Azerbaijan risks losing Eurovision 2027 eligibility over Council of Europe withdrawal talks within the goverment
Political instability in Eastern Europe could dramatically alter the landscape of Eurovision 2027. The government of Azerbaijan is seriously considering a complete withdrawal from the Council of Europe, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced this week. In his opening address at the 4th World Media Forum held in Shusha, the President clarified that Baku is not merely considering a temporary freeze or suspension of activities, but is openly exploring a total exit from the body. Such a step carries significant consequences, including impacts on future Eurovision participation.
The dramatic implications of this decision lie within the rules of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Full membership or observer status in the Council of Europe serves as a core threshold criterion for holding membership in the broadcasting union. Consequently, if Azerbaijan materializes its threats and withdraws from the Council, its national broadcaster, İTV, would face a tangible risk of having its EBU membership revoked, thereby stripping the nation of its right to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
What is Behind the Dramatic Move?
According to President Aliyev, the turning point that triggered this severe crisis occurred in 2024, when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to suspend the voting rights of the Azerbaijani delegation. Aliyev labeled the decision as “unfortunate” and demanded that the organization reverse its stance. “They made an unfair decision, and they must take a step back and acknowledge their mistake,” the President stated, adding that the Secretary General of the Council of Europe reached out to him personally, requesting that he refrain from rushing into a withdrawal and instead seek a resolution to the situation.
Some commentators argue that Baku’s threats of withdrawal function as a diplomatic pressure tactic designed to mitigate growing international criticism regarding human rights violations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Nevertheless, the implementation of this move remains uncertain at this stage. Even if Azerbaijan officially initiates the dissolution process, the required legal procedures would span a considerable timeframe, leaving the immediate impact of the move on the country’s participation in Eurovision 2027 unknown.
The financial crisis at the ČT network
The heated political debates surrounding the new media law in Czechia are igniting a wave of rumors and concerns ahead of Eurovision 2027, which is set to be held in neighboring Bulgaria. Changing the funding model of the Czech television network (ČT) could lead to unprecedented cuts, forcing executives to reconsider their involvement in expensive international events despite the relative successes recorded in recent years, similar to the trend we reported last month regarding the review of Luxembourg’s continued participation.
The Czech government is advancing a law that partially decouples the budget from the traditional radio and television fee, a move that is sparking widespread opposition, with approximately 300 comments and reservations already submitted regarding the current draft.
The Deputy Director of Czech Television, Milan Fridrich, issued a concerning statement, warning that the new law could lead to a massive financial loss of between 40 and 60 million euros annually. According to the station’s management, such a dramatic drop in revenue would force them to lay off between 300 and 500 employees, cut back on original productions, and forego major television projects.
At the same time, the network’s spokesperson department emphasizes that as of this moment, no final decision has been made, stating: “The decision regarding Czechia’s participation in Eurovision 2027 has not yet been made, and there is currently no official information indicating a withdrawal from the contest.“
Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2026
“Just Go” is the song that performed by the singer JIVA, who represented Azerbaijan as song number 2 in the second semi-final on May 14th, in Vienna, Austria. The song reached 15th in the semi final with 2 points.
Eurovision 2026: This was Azerbaijan’s 18th participation in Eurovision. Azerbaijan joined the contest in 2008 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2011 when singers Ell and Nikki, won first place with the song “Running Scared”.
