there are many things wrong and shady with the jury votes this year but the
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feud isn't one of them... not per se. why do people think their jurors should be banned for that when the countries always rank each other last in the televote too anyway? their feud is deeply political and it's sad that they always bring it to eurovision but it doesn't really make a difference that they don't give each other points.
It is political, mostly, but there's also a cultural element involved. You also have to remember that the state broadcasters are involved with Eurovision as much as they are involved with towing the government's official line on the news and everything that's going on in the country. Both ARMTv and Ictimai are mouthpieces for the regimes' propaganda, and both the governments in Armenia and Azerbaijan
depend on creating an atmosphere of hatred for the other for legitimacy and changing as little as possible. In a way, this makes for odd bedfellows because the only thing keeping the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan from losing power is each other. However, I would say that because Azerbaijan lost the war in the early 90's, this is truer for them than it is for Armenia as most people in Armenia don't think or care about Azerbaijan until they do something obscene like reward a man for chopping an Armenian's head off in his sleep with an ax. So yes, there is obvious government pressure because both broadcasters are owned by the state and must continue to reinforce
all of that state's attitudes, including xenophobia. Sadly, this is reflected in Eurovision as well. I don't even think anyone has to even say anything about that to the jury members because the environment is so hostile, you just know to bow your head and go along with it.
People from the South Caucasus are very, very proud. Not just culturally speaking, but individually as well. Cross them one time and it could take a while for them to forgive you, if that ever happens. This is coming from someone who is from that culture, but can look at it from the outside as well. To be fair, Armenia had given Azerbaijan points in Eurovision. Over 1,000 votes were cast for Azerbaijan from Armenia while in Azerbaijan, 43 people were called in for interrogation and Ictimai television blurred Armenia's televoting number out. Ever since that happened, Armenia now refuses to give any points to Azerbaijan, and in addition to its Eurovision behavior, its behavior on the political scale has just disgusted so many people in Armenia that the mere mention of the word "Azerbaijan" will most likely evoke negative reactions. I'm sure the opposite is true for the Azeris, too.
People from this area have a very narrow concept of identity, and if you haven't already noticed by now, it usually involves a "we're the best, and therefore x and y are inadequate" mantra. Egos here are very delicate. Everything has the potential to become a fight. Have you seen the War on Dolma? You can't both be good, one party has to be dominant. It's a very archaic way of thinking, but identity here is built off of that-- the perception that you are the best and your neighbors are somehow less than you. So that cultural and personal pride, sprinkled with some chauvanism, is the reason why this last place exchange keeps happening. Nobody in Armenia is going to cast a vote for Azerbaijan after what they did to everyone wh voted for Inga and Anush, purely out of pride. This pride and chauvanism is part of the reason why Azerbaijan spent nearly a billion dollars trying to prove to the world how wealthy and shiny they are; they feel that Eurovision is a reflection of the entire country and population itself. I wouldn't be surprised if Armenia also rolled out the big bucks, either, because our attitude is similar, too, I think.
Anyway, this is why I think Eurovision isn't bothering with this issue. It's way too deeply engrained into the peoples' minds that punishing them would literally not do anything. You have to be able to pick your battles wisely, and this isn't a battle the EBU and ESC can win. Change has to come from within and nothing is going to change until there is a final peace deal and change of government in both countries. Besides, people tend to forget that there are teens who are still dying because of this conflict. There is a ceasefire but the war is technically not over. The Karabagh frontline is the last places for trench warfare in Europe. It's difficult for ARMTv to report that Azeris have shot at Armenian teens with snipers then reward them with points at ESC. I'm sure the reverse is true for Azerbaijan as well, not only that, but they also have to deal with the humiliation of losing a war that they started.
I think the bigger outrage is that Italy can win the televote with a landslide 366 votes but not host the contest because the juries' lack of taste.
you mean the award given for the best composition of the year? lol half of the songs in the final would have deserved it more than Sweden. what a trickery!
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