Russian Occupation Authorities Seize Family Home of Ukraine's Eurovision Winner Jamala

Singer Jamala, known for her Crimean Tatar heritage and her Eurovision 2016 win, recently disclosed that representatives of the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea have seized her family home. In a social media post, she expressed deep distress over the situation, emphasizing the personal significance of the property to her parents and its role in their life’s work.

According to Jamala, the occupation authorities not only seized the house but also rifled through her family’s personal belongings and archives. The singer recounted that the process began weeks ago when “journalists” arrived to document the property, followed by officials who announced plans for formal acquisition. Subsequently, keys were obtained from neighbors without any need for forced entry, culminating in the inventory of possessions and the house being effectively taken over today.

Jamala, who was born in Kyrgyzstan but holds a deep connection to Crimea, rose to prominence in Ukraine and internationally, notably winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016. Her family was forcibly resettled from Crimea to Central Asia in 1944, which is the main theme of her Eurovision-winning song '1944'.

In addition to her artistic achievements, Jamala has been recognized with awards such as the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine and has been involved in charitable efforts.