BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/12/2006

Belarus select top 3

Dmitry Koldun, The Project and Diana Gurtskaya qualify to the next stage of the Belarussian 'Eurofest' competition, after tonight's show. These 3 artists now go to the final stage of the contest, where the jury will decide internally as to who should represent Belarus in Helsinki. The announcement of the final winner is expected in January.

Broadcaster BTRC unexpectedly changed the rules so that only the winner from the televoting (Dmitry Koldun) went to the next round directly, with the other 2 artists being chosen by the jury - these places going to The Project's SUPERSTAR and blind Georgian singer Diana Gurtskaya with How Long. This must've been very annoying for band Litesound who finished 2nd in the televoting!

Belarus finished 22nd in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest semi final with Polina Smolova's Mum and therefore didn't qualify. Therefore, they will have to enter the semi final once again in 2007.

Source:

http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/7022