With just weeks to the Euro 2012 Football competition in Poland and Ukraine, a race row has been raised by the right wing part of the Ukrainian society.  The right-wing Freedom Party in Ukraine has attacked the decision to select Gaita-Lurdes Essami, a  half Congolese to represent Ukraine at the just concluded Euro Vision Contest.

“Millions of people will see that Ukraine is represented by a person who does not belong to our race, People might get an impression that Ukraine is a country somewhere in Africa” said Yuri Syrotyuk, whose party is preparing to contest in Ukraine’s parliamentary elections later this year.

RACE-STORM: The Right wing parties in Ukraine have criticised the decision to choose Gaita-Lurdes Essami to represent Ukraine at the just concluded Euro Vision

Despite his comments, Yuri has played down accusations of racism in his statement and has said that he was criticising the “lack of transparency in the national selection”.

His comments has been condemned in Ukraine by most mainstream political parties. Popular Ukrainian brothers, Boxers Vitaly and Volodymyr Klitschko have also criticised the comments made by Yuri

Talking to the press, Gaitana, said that the racist statement has uncovered a problem in Ukraine that might have been overlooked for years..

“I’m so ashamed of this unpleasant incident, because Ukraine is a democratic country, where kind and hospitable people live”, she said at a press conference.

Ukraine will co-host this years Euro 2012 Football tournament and many countries such as England has warned its fans(especially Black and Asians ) to on only travel to the country if it is absolutely necessary to do so.

Tagged as: EURO 2012, Gaita-Lurdes Essami, Ukraine