Supports Ukraine, International Emmy Bans Programs From Russia From Participating In Competition

Emmy Award (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - In support of Ukraine, the executive committee of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that it will ban all programs from Russia in this year's International Emmy Awards competition.

"This follows the previously announced action to suspend membership, as well as all formal affiliations with the Russia-based company," the organization said in a statement.

According to the International Academy, that means any program that meets the above criteria is ineligible to take part in the International Emmy and, if already submitted, will be withdrawn.

"All programs produced by and/or co-produced by companies based in Russia, as well as all programs originally created for Russian-owned channels, networks or streaming platforms," the statement said.

The organization had previously released a statement on March 1 that in support of Ukraine, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences suspended the membership of all Russian individuals, as well as all formal affiliations with companies based in Russia.

"Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people and all those who were directly affected by the invasion of an independent country by Russia. We pray that this tragic conflict ends soon," said the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

As part of the move, Mikhail Solodovnikov, who owns Russia's T&R Prods, runs the RT network, was removed from the board of directors of the International Academy, and his membership was suspended.

Other Russian members, including RT International news chief Elizaveta Brodskaya, were also removed from the list, according to a report at the time by Deadline.

Last year, Russia-backed RT received an International Emmy nomination in the news category for "Nagorno-Karabakh War: Bloodshed And Path To Ceasefire". However, UK Sky News ended up winning an Emmy for "A Warning From Italy".

This year will mark the 50th International Emmy. Last year's event, hosted by Yvonne Orji, took place on November 22 in New York.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which operates separately from the LA-based Academy of Television and the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, was founded in 1969 and focuses on television programming produced outside the United States (in addition to television programming). non-English languages in the US). International Emmy Awards are awarded to programs in sixteen categories.