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Eurovision: Ukraine's entry tackles Stalin's wartime deportation of the Tatar people

A Crimean Tatar singer will represent Ukraine in the Eurovision 2016 song contest with a track inspired by Stalinist repressions against the region's Muslim community.
Jamala's "1944" tells the story of Soviet deportation of the Crimean Tatars. It has struck a chord with many Ukrainians and got lots of attention during the country's Eurovision selection process, despite the fact that Crimean residents are unable to take part in the usual tele-vote vote as the region was annexed by Russia in March 2014. Jamala spoke to Weekend's Paul Henley about the inspiration behind the song she wrote.

(Picture: Susana Jamaladinova known as Jamala. Credit: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images)

Release date:

Duration:

5 minutes