:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

According to Oikotimes , The head of LRT Audrius Siaurusevičius is going to request EBU for more information about Georgian disqualification. 'In Lithuanian folk songs word putinas (a kind of bush called viburnum) is very popular and let's say we send a song with that word in it... Would we also be disqualified? Are the words following each other and sounding similar to any famous person also counted as insulting? I really do not understand this decision by EBU. The play of words, especially in the cultural context, cannot be an excuse for this kind of behavious' , says the head of LRT. He also adds that this decision makes Eurovision even more political. -

On the 14th February, The Lithuanian final was held. Sasha Son aka Dima Shavrov will represent Lithania with the song Pasiklydes zmogus. -

Although Lithuania was included in the announcement of the 43 countries competing in at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, it is only now that LRT have officially confirmed that Lithuania will appear on Olympiyski Indoor Arena's stage. Yesterday LRT board has held a meeting and it was decided that there aren't any obstacles to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. -

With San Marino out of 2009 and Latvia nearing withdrawal, is there other countries withdrawing from 2009 due to financial reasons. As we all know, the list of participants has traditionally been made public in early December. The delay in revealing the final list of countries taking part in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest suggests that there are still countries that have yet to confirm that they will procede with their participation. Lithunaian national broadcaster LVT has claimed that not competing in the Eurovision Song Contest could be a cost saving measure. Monaco may not compete in 2009 for the same reason. Who knows what will happen, but the list of participates for 2009 will make interesting reading. Read: Article from ESCTIME -

This morning's Mirror UK newspaper reports that next year's Eurovision Song Contest is under threat after ex-Soviet states called for a boycott after Russia invaded Georgia. Baltic nations Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia may pull out of the contest in Moscow in support of the embattled country. A poll in Estonia has already backed a boycott. Pressure is rising for a Polish withdrawal. Both the Baltic nations and former eastern bloc countries helped clinch victory for Russian singer Dima Bilan, 26, this year. Estonia's culture minister Laine Janes, said: "Solidarity must exist with Lithuania and Latvia to show consolidated support for Georgia." But Svante Stockselius, of organiser the European Broadcasting Union, said: "These issues should not be linked. We are organising a non-political event."

52 Ukraine 120 Portugal 112 Denmark 112 Croatia 107 Georgia 086 Latvia 085 Turkey 068 Iceland 067 Albania 064 FYR Macedonia 056 Bulgaria 054 Sweden* 047 Switzerland 038 Malta 036 Cyprus 030 Lithuania 027 Belarus 009 Czech Republic 006 Hungary *Indicated the jury's choice As you see Sweden was saved by the jury.

Entertainment reporter for BBC News, Michael Osborn gives his lowdown on some of this years songs from Ireland, Latvia, Spain, Sweden, Estonia, Portugal, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium, Bosnia - Herzegovina, San Marino, Switzerland, Romania, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Finland, Turkey & Russia. Read More. Source: BBC News UK

The fifteen song national final was held on February 2nd at the LRT studios in Vilnius, following two semi-finals. The winner was be chosen by televoting and in one of the closest contests of the year "Nomads In The Night" sung by Jeronimas Milius won the selection.