Eurovision celebrity initiates legal fight against EU sanctions
Russian singer Polina Gagarina has filed a lawsuit contesting the EU sanctions imposed on her. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Russian singer Polina Gagarina is seeking to have her name removed from the EU's sanctions list, which was enacted due to alleged support for actions that “undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
The pop star, who was a finalist in Eurovision, was sanctioned in June after the EU pointed to her involvement in Russian “state propaganda events” as justification for her blacklisting. This action coincided with her performance at a concert in Moscow celebrating the 10th anniversary of Crimea's annexation by Russia—a move not recognized by the United Nations, which continues to view Crimea as part of Ukraine.
Gagarina's complaint was submitted to the European Court of Justice in September, and was officially registered on October 14. In her legal filing, she contends that the Council of the European Union did not meet the required "burden of proof," and asserts that her rights to proportionality and freedom of expression were infringed upon.
She gained significant recognition during the 2015 Eurovision competition, where she placed second with her song "A Million Voices," and she has been a judge on multiple seasons of the Russian adaptation of "The Voice."
The sanctions have also affected the availability of her music, which has been removed from major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. Gagarina expressed her frustration in a July interview with Voice Magazine, stating, “I believe that music, just like any other form of art, has been created to heal and inspire. And people who love me should be able to continue to listen to it and be able to easily find it. No one has the right to ban music, which is why I will have my say.”
In response to the sanctions on Russian artists, Moscow has condemned these actions, claiming that efforts to “cancel” Russian culture internationally will ultimately be unsuccessful.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
The pop star, who was a finalist in Eurovision, was sanctioned in June after the EU pointed to her involvement in Russian “state propaganda events” as justification for her blacklisting. This action coincided with her performance at a concert in Moscow celebrating the 10th anniversary of Crimea's annexation by Russia—a move not recognized by the United Nations, which continues to view Crimea as part of Ukraine.
Gagarina's complaint was submitted to the European Court of Justice in September, and was officially registered on October 14. In her legal filing, she contends that the Council of the European Union did not meet the required "burden of proof," and asserts that her rights to proportionality and freedom of expression were infringed upon.
She gained significant recognition during the 2015 Eurovision competition, where she placed second with her song "A Million Voices," and she has been a judge on multiple seasons of the Russian adaptation of "The Voice."
The sanctions have also affected the availability of her music, which has been removed from major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. Gagarina expressed her frustration in a July interview with Voice Magazine, stating, “I believe that music, just like any other form of art, has been created to heal and inspire. And people who love me should be able to continue to listen to it and be able to easily find it. No one has the right to ban music, which is why I will have my say.”
In response to the sanctions on Russian artists, Moscow has condemned these actions, claiming that efforts to “cancel” Russian culture internationally will ultimately be unsuccessful.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
