Controversy over Cyprus Eurovision entry Jalla and protest letter to RIK

A group of artists, scientists, and educators in Cyprus submitted a formal letter to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) requesting the withdrawal of the song Jalla and its music video from the Eurovision Song Contest. The signatories also demanded the publication of financial records and details regarding the selection process. The controversy gained attention when actress Popi Avraam admitted to signing the protest letter without having seen the video or heard the song, stating she trusted the prestige of the other signatories. RIK Director General defended the entry, clarifying that the contest is intended to foster unity rather than serve as a formal cultural policy statement. He also noted that certain scenes were removed from the video for violating road safety standards before being re-uploaded by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Critics of the protest have compared the intervention to previous religious objections against past entries such as El Diablo. RIK maintains that the entry is separate from Cyprus's upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.