2013-05-23 16:57

Eurovision vote buyers were Ukrainian nationals, car rental records show

Two Russian-speaking men, who were caught on camera by 15min offering money for votes in the Eurovision Song Contest, came from Ukraine. According to sources, the two men arrived to Saturday's meeting in a car rented in Lithuania.
Balsus „Eurovizijoje“ norėję pirkti vyrai atvyko nuomotu automobiliu
Vote buyers arrived to the meeting in a rented MBW

One of the men had used car rental services in Lithuania before. This time, he wanted the BMW 530D for ten days, 9 to 19 May.

The first Eurovision semifinal took place on 13 May, the second one, on 15 May, and the final concert in Malmo was held on 18 May.

"The car was rented out to a Ukrainian citizen. He comes to Lithuania quite often, I don't think only with bad intentions," the source told 15min on the condition of anonymity.

The man paid a little under 2 thousand litas for the rented car, or about 600 euros.

Incoming Ukrainian citizens must have a Lithuanian visa. They also fill out a declaration indicating how much money they are bringing into the country.

Last Saturday, 15min recorded a meeting with two Russian-speaking men who offered money in exchange for televoting for Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest. They said that similar vote-buying schemes were carried out in fifteen countries.

Lithuania did indeed award the maximum 12-point score to Azerbaijan's Eurovision entry.

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