The New York Times and Financial Times are reporting on the investigation of votes cast in the Eurovision contest. Originally reported on by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, Azerbaijan's government is investigating, and in some cases interrogating, people who are suspected to have voted for an Armenian song in this year's Eurovision contest. Below is an exceprt from the New York Times report.
The full story from the New York Times
The full story from the Financial Times
"A Song Contest Becomes a Hot Spot in Feud Between Countries"
Eric Pfanner | New York Times
[...] But some Azerbaijanis who took impartiality to impressive lengths, voting for the Armenian entry in the 2009 final in May, reportedly were called in to the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry.
“They were trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things like, ‘You have no sense of ethnic pride; how come you voted for Armenia?”’ one of them, Rovshan Nasirli, told Radio Free Europe. “They made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go.” [...]
The full story from the New York Times
The full story from the Financial Times
"A Song Contest Becomes a Hot Spot in Feud Between Countries"
Eric Pfanner | New York Times
[...] But some Azerbaijanis who took impartiality to impressive lengths, voting for the Armenian entry in the 2009 final in May, reportedly were called in to the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry.
“They were trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things like, ‘You have no sense of ethnic pride; how come you voted for Armenia?”’ one of them, Rovshan Nasirli, told Radio Free Europe. “They made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go.” [...]