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Sochi to host New Wave pop song contest — Krasnodar Territory governor

The organizers of the festival decided to change the place of the New Wave festival from its original venue in Jurmala because a number of Russian pop stars were banned from entry to Latvia

© ITAR-TASS/EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

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Russian singer Joseph Kobzon challenges his blacklisting by Latvia’s foreign ministry

MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. Sochi will host the New Wave pop song contest, which was held in the Baltic resort of Jurmala annually, Krasnodar Territory Governor Alexander Tkachev said on Monday.

In addition to Sochi, Kaliningrad and Yalta were the contenders to host the song festival, Tkachev said.

The organizers of the festival decided to change the place of the New Wave festival because in July 2014 Russian pop stars Valeriya, Iosif Kobzon and Oleg Gazmanov were banned from entry to Latvia.

After the incident Tkachev put forth a proposal to hold the festival in Krasnodar Territory, southern Russia, the governor’s press service said.

Read also

Russian culture minister supports idea of moving New Wave music contest from Latvia

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