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It is the fifth former Soviet republic after Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine and Russia and the second Muslim country after Turkey to host the event. The government is also under fire from Islamic figures as well who object to the Eurovision pageant. Dozens of peaceful protesters were arrested this month in central Baku during rallies and marches demanding democracy and the resignation of the government. Eurovision, which draws more than million viewers almost every year, parades a wide array of musical styles in original songs, mostly from relatively unknown artists. Reporting by Margarita Antidze; editing by Paul Casciato.{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} The move underscored tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan which Armenian forces seized control of after the collapse of the Soviet Union. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}Natalia Pugachova, 76, member of the rural folk group "Buranovskiye Babushki" Grannies from Buranovo , who are representing Russia in the Eurovision song contest, speaks on the phone at a hotel in the village of Nardaran, some 35 km 22 miles northeast of Baku May 24, The multi-purpose Crystal Hall arena was built by a German firm in eight months for an undisclosed sum of money. The song contest, which is a major showbusiness event in many participating countries, has also been marred by the decision of Armenia to pull out of the contest this month. But human rights groups say some buildings in the centre of Baku were specifically torn down with the song contest in mind and that the forced eviction of residents, especially in areas around the Crystal Hall, casts a shadow over the event. STOMPING GRANNIES In the contest itself, 10 countries out of 18 have already qualified in the first Eurovision semi-final this week, while 10 more will be selected on Thursday to participate in the grand final on Saturday night. Russian grannies and year-old Swedish diva Loreen are regarded by bookmakers as top rivals ahead in the final. Six more participants, including Azerbaijan, are already included in the final without participating in semi-finals. Critics accuse Aliyev, who in succeeded his father to the presidency of the Caspian Sea country north of Iran, of clamping down on dissent, but Baku says the country enjoys full freedom of speech and a vibrant opposition press.