Europe investigates interrogations of Azerbaijani citizens who voted for Armenia at "Eurovision"

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has started its investigation into the facts of interrogating by the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security (MNS) of the citizens of the country who gave their votes for Armenian participants of the contest "Eurovision-2009".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Azerbaijani MNS is now revealing those television viewers, who voted for participants from Armenia at the musical contests "Eurovision-2009".

As reported by Diana Mnatsakanyan, adviser for special projects of the executive director of the Public Television of Armenia, yesterday she sent a letter to the EBU with a request to report, whether the Azerbaijani party had submitted any official document asking to with the request about disclosing the telephone numbers of those citizens of Azerbaijan, who had voted for Armenia.

As reported by the "PanARMENIAN.Net", she received an answer to her letter saying that at the moment Svantes Stokselius, head of the EBU and executive manager of the "Eurovision" contest, is engaged in investigating the incident; until the process is over, he refuses to make any comments.

"The European Broadcasting Union knows about the rumours and accusations, which appeared in media; and last week we started the inquiry with participation of our technical partners. Its results will make the issue clear for local broadcasters either," the APA Agency quotes Mr Stokselius as saying.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that earlier the Public Television of Armenia had lodged a complaint to the organizing committee of "Eurovision-2009" against Azerbaijan's actions, which, in the opinion of the Armenian party, prevented Baku residents from voting for Armenia. A group of Azerbaijani Internet users has reported that during broadcasting of the "Eurovision", in Baku the part of the screen with the telephone number to be used for voting for the Armenian participants Inga and Anush was blocked.

The Public Television of Azerbaijan rejects all accusations.