Okay, EBU - here's how you can examine the evidence

Torbjörn Ek

The source is willing to let an independent IT expert see the proof

Here you are, EBU - come and check our evidence.

Aftonbladet’s source is ready to let an independent IT expert examine the material. “It is my duty to bring justice to what is most important - the truth,” he says.

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The highest governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, the reference group, will hold its next meeting on 18th June - and Swedish delegation head Christer Björkman has demanded that Jarmo Siim’s Facebook message is discussed then.

Despite Aftonbladet’s articles, Eurovision chief Jon Ola Sand claims he hasn’t seen any evidence to prove the message was sent. He’s demanding the handover of material protected under Swedish and international law regarding the protection of journalists’ sources - and claims he can guarantee that this won’t affect our source in any way.

Wants anonymity guaranteed

However, the journalist who received the message from Siim’s account doesn’t have the same confidence. He wants to protect his identity so he or the media outlet he works for won’t face sanctions in the future - or any other measures from the EBU, which produces Eurovision.

But he is concerned that the EBU is trying to delay the investigation until after the reference group meeting so it won’t have to answer critical questions from member broadcasters about its handling of the situation.

“It is my duty to bring justice to what is most important - the truth,” says the source.

Want to meet with an independent IT expert

To achieve this, the source is offering the EBU a way to examine the material via the auditing firm that confirms the Eurovision Song Contest voting has been carried out correctly each year. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has previously been appointed by the EBU to investigate alleged voting irregularities, and offered anonymity to anyone willing to talk at that point.

The source is prepared to meet an independent IT expert appointed by PwC so his Facebook account can be examined - to again confirm that the message is authentic, and was sent from Jarmo Siim’s Facebook profile. The process would also assess the likelihood of the message having been sent by Jarmo Siim, and not from someone who had hacked into his Facebook account.

In order for this to happen, our source requires a written statement from PwC that guarantees him complete anonymity, particularly with regards to the EBU and anyone who works for it. PwC’s expert must not have any links to the EBU or Wow Works, the subcontracted PR agency employing Jarmo Siim.

Aftonbladet has now offered Eurovision chief Jon Ola Sand this possibility to examine the evidence.

Also read this article: Eurovision boss on smear campaign allegations: ”Cannot consider this as evidence”