Albania: RTSH will not broadcast Eurovision tonight

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Radio and Television of Albania RTSH, will not broadcast the first semi-final of Eurovision tonight, after the president’s announcement that today will be mourning day in Albania. Yesterday, fourteen young students died in Himarë, Southern Albania after an accident where the bus slipped from a mountain.

Yesterday night, the president of Albania Mr. Bamir Topi, stated that tomorrow will be Mourning Day in whole Albania (Ditë Zie, Black Day). Because of this RTSH will not broadcast Eurovision Song Contest. Albanian votes tonight will be applied by the professional jury only, and the semi-final will be broadcast tomorrow.

In the news today, RTSH announced that EBU has given the rights Albania not to broadcast Eurovision tonight because of the tragedy that happened yesterday. Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU, stated: “We express our deepest sympathy with those who are affected by this terrible tragedy and have the utmost respect for the request of RTSH.”

However, the decision does not affect Albania’s participation this year. RTSH will broadcast the first semi-final tomorrow, and will continue to broadcast live the other two shows!