Turkey considers EBU complaint over Greece’s Eurovision entry ‘Asteromata,’ reports say | eKathimerini.com

Greece’s entry for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel has sparked controversy in neighboring Turkey due to its alleged historical references.

According to reports, the state-run broadcaster, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), announced that it will review the content of the song “Asteromata,” performed by Klavdia, following complaints that it alludes to the massacre of ethnic Greeks living along the Black Sea coast by the Ottoman Turks during World War I and the subsequent Greco-Turkish War.

Greece has officially recognized the killings that took place between 1914 and 1923 as genocide since 1994, designating May 19 as an annual day of remembrance. However, Turkey disputes this classification, arguing that these events occurred during a time of war and civil strife rather than as part of a systematic extermination campaign.

According to the same reports, if TRT determines that Asteromata contains references to the Pontic Greek Genocide, it will file an official complaint with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which owns and operates the Eurovision networks.

Following her victory in Greece’s national final on January 30, Klavdia – who is of Pontic descent – clarified that “Asteromata” (which translates to “Starry-eyed”) is not about any specific historical event but is instead inspired by all those forced to flee their homeland due to war and conflict.