The European Broadcasting Union has imposed a fine on Armenia over Yerevan's refusal to send performers to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, capital of Armenia's rival, Azerbaijan.
The European Broadcasting Union said Armenia would still have to pay the full fee required to participate in the contest, as well as an additional 50 percent of that amount as a fine.
Details about the amounts of money involved were not immediately available.
The European Broadcasting Union, which is responsible for managing Eurovision, also said Armenian public television was obliged to show the May 26 Eurovision finals live.
Otherwise, Armenia could be excluded from the 2013 Eurovision contest.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been embroiled for decades in their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic-Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan.
The European Broadcasting Union said Armenia would still have to pay the full fee required to participate in the contest, as well as an additional 50 percent of that amount as a fine.
Details about the amounts of money involved were not immediately available.
The European Broadcasting Union, which is responsible for managing Eurovision, also said Armenian public television was obliged to show the May 26 Eurovision finals live.
Otherwise, Armenia could be excluded from the 2013 Eurovision contest.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been embroiled for decades in their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic-Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan.