Azerbaijan’s delegation has denied reports that the country would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel were excluded, calling those stories false.
Denying rumours
The comment came from Turab Teymurov, head of Media and Public Relations for the Azerbaijani delegation, during a press conference held to announce the country’s Junior Eurovision representative. Teymurov told journalists that Azerbaijan’s primary goal is to showcase the nation’s culture on the European stage and that the contest should remain apolitical. “This is false information,” he said, adding that whether Israel, or any other country, participates in the contest “cannot affect our participation.”
The statement appears to respond to a wave of reports in Turkish media suggesting Azerbaijan would withdraw if Israel were disqualified: those reports followed an article in The Telegraph.
The delegation’s message underscores a wider point made by several broadcasters this season: many wish to separate the musical contest from geopolitics even as debates around participation continue across Europe.
Azerbaijan’s Eurovision journey
Azerbaijan is a powerhouse in Eurovision, first debuting in 2008 with the song “Day After Day” by Elnur & Samir, finishing 8th. The country has since achieved five top-5 performances, including one win in 2011. Azerbaijan has an impressive qualification record, only failing to make the final in 2018, 2023, and 2024.
Azerbaijan internally selected Mamagama to represent them in 2025 with the song “Run With U”; they scored seven points in the first semifinal, placing fifteenth and missing out on the Grand Final for a third consecutive year.
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News Source: 12xal
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
Thomas James