has offered its a facilities to the cattle on government's health department is trying to help with the crisis. of next here on d.w.i. 19 special i'll be back at the top of the out and of course as always more online at the w dot com of the 1st. section . go beyond. go so that. we're all about the stories that matter to. us. whatever it takes. to not running down such a little nugget. you made for mines. her.

last winter in moscow. thousands of people lined up in the middle of the night to be a part of an old ritual. in the russian soul where under the single. which we are facing god makes a strong let's get out together yet at. something resembling a baptism for adults is taking place next to a church. the faithful take a quick dip in ice cold water. during the soviet era this russian orthodox ritual to mark a piece and all but disappeared now it's being revived.

this is not just about face it's a way to show the world but russia is capable of. the world. on russian television is here to show president vladimir putin taking the plunge. 400 kilometers from moscow the man who serves as a role model for his country and has the chilly water when he's. got. this ritual goodnights russians in different parts of the country. and the faithful are impressed that their president is leading by example. with the with the with brought about them living a good russian a religious russian if you spray people to his roots his country on a system in which he lives. and i want to bring about peace for us i need someone to lead the way. and that's flat on your part in the body but. many things that

were banned in the soviet union are now presented with pride including cossacks traditions. not far from red square are the offices of saud bad t.v. broadcaster that propagates a return to traditional values. even in the lobby it's clear who has the say here the president and the patriarch of moscow and all russia. the broadcaster was founded by constantine while if you have an orthodox businessman and putin ally here journalists criticize western decadence and declare homosexuality to be a cardinal sin so are grad t.v.'s biggest star is host andre often asked you have.

that's always true to your he's considered one of the best and definitely a well equipped and russian say in the world. the main specialty of it is the him by saying that i can all. jews or spend a crater it's one of one of the symbols i would show up. in 2017 and very often as you have made international headlines when he produced a video offering the russian homosexuals a free one way ticket to the us. we received a cue from which this is not a joke we really want you to move there where you can openly submit to your since you brought up. star grad t.v. says these kinds of pieces have increased viewer numbers substantially. the broadcaster claims a quarter of all russians have watched its programs at least once. the us that's

a young video if i'm under very often us you welcome to the russian answer to. the program's fight for family values and against abortion and they depicts the west as decadent and corrupt. these are also favorite topics of owner constantine malik feel. the 45 year old business tycoon amassed his wealth through banking and internet companies. people call him the orthodox oligarchs though he sees himself as a monarchist he's also said to be interactive contact with vladimir putin. putting in my house there from to substitute for the search for this moment there because what he's doing right now it would be the best what. could be done by born star. he personifies himself with russia.

to pass the sense of patriotism and orthodoxy on to the next generation constantine has also founded a school in the st basil the great school is located in an upscale neighborhood in moscow. 400 pupils attend classes in what resembles a palace the school is a training ground for russia's future elites the walls are lined with images of past stars and famous russian writers constant reminders of the pre-revolutionary russian empire. the point was you know for children to know more so these paintings. and dates it's given some time to your hearts and to your mind to even if you are not meshing has been your module always would remember you know some some nice you know it back to russian history. of to make sure nothing distracts from the special atmosphere cellphones aren't allowed

at the same basel the great school for just over $1000.00 euros a month even young children get to learn all about tradition including church slavonic which is still used in orthodox services. where it's a volunteer like church slavonic was if it was my along with the classical education pupils were also taught good manners proper etiquette and dancing. the way 15 year old barbara is the daughter of an oil company sing and oh she's attended the school for 4 years. not too bad. i proceed only 10.

i think there is a sort of this traditional dance was very popular in the 19th century that. i. think. we're practicing it for our schools anniversary celebrations what is it when our parents and many other guests will be clear voice. celebrated in the style of the imperial era the ball is one of the highlights of the school year barbara will also dance before the watchful eyes of school founder constantine around here. i'll admit i'm a bit nervous at the most but after the dress rehearsal there will be less stress and at the ball i'll be much better for that your sister. barbara lives in an

exclusive residential area not far from the school with her parents and her younger brother. room is decorated with russian icons but recently barbara has also been learning to play the guitar and her walls are also covered with posters of rock bands which aren't on the curriculum at the st basel the great school. should be a somewhat pushy i'm a completely normal teenager distillate i listen to alternative rock i like the ramstein 3 days grace and green day. and there's a magic dragons and my chemical romance she made the rainbow flags which symbolize the l g b t pride movement herself. i knew my parents don't know what these colors mean then or at school they tell us that homosexuality is something bad. but i think that all

people are equal. doesn't even if someone has black skin or a different sexual orientation they should be respected and loved with your view wishing you're with them you. know. this evening barbara's parents are hosting a dinner party her father andre is cooking a specialty from siberia where he grew up. this is siberian sturgeon was the favorite dish of people in the north. that old if we lived in the north for 40 years my parents moved there in their youth in the days when it was still the soviet union also i would see them in. andre trained as

a geologist he worked for an oil company and rose through the ranks until he became its c.e.o. now he belongs to the russian elite. are the delicious. she barbara's mother anastasio is also preparing a siberian specialty. that the baking librarian tell many dumplings filled with ground russians love them just. another married couple and barbara's grandparents have been invited for dinner. and of course there's lots to drink 6 years i wish you luck and with. more on the way glad you're here. it's up. to you in russia it's a tradition to say a toast before drinking another glass. as for that post the hospital is more of our shores and you know i drink to your big family may have remained united that's

what's most valuable to ourselves. and that you honor tradition to you and your specific things we've known each other so long because that's not. maybe these russians are so focused on tradition because their recent history has been so chaotic for many change breeds fear the bullshit that in russian history he's in every major changes lead to violence. if you please could you do any preaching to those who believe we've always had bloody revolution listened to coups with many deaths and the lives shattered. ladyship. right here they're all put in supporters mainly because russia has enjoyed sustained economic growth during his rule. since 1999 the average income has increased 10 fold more using your assumption and today we have more faith in the

future. the country has stabilized. we feel protected in every way you can make money legally stability is the most important thing. but putin doesn't just have the wealthy upper class behind him he can also rely on the support of a legendary slavic people known for their courage and fighting skills the cossacks . their troops on horseback once defended russia's borders and spread fear among opponents and religious minorities. rostov on don in southern russia is the center of john cossack culture. grigori is 15 years old his father and his grandfather were cossacks his life's aim is to defend his homeland. the hurdle to put down which everyone must decide if he's a patriot or not. so today russia is subject to many dangers from abroad.

some of which is a she should i have to defend my motherland one day. i mean prepared to sacrifice my life with regard to the stories we need to instill. grigori has already internalized the cossacks values of patriotism militarism and orthodoxy. it's a mixture that matches blood amir putin's conservative ideals. grigori as a cadet at the highly regarded shakti cossacks cool. here $220.00 young men are preparing for their military service. while those who go off and therefore calle the flags of the russian federation and the rest of regional jets go our course.

in soviet times cossacks were oppressed. after the iron curtain collapsed their culture began to flourish again putin officially integrated them into the russian army this school is publicly funded but let me. i expect our president to hold the country together and ensure our welfare system. today is most important duty is the security of our country and he must see to it that there is peace in our nation. because what's happening in our borders frightens us. any. gory and his fellow pupils have the same curriculum as in other russian schools they study everything from math to literature but here there is a special focus on history specifically the history of the cossacks because look at

. what i said not for what. we're looking for good for the cause x. your head covering as a question of honor. our forefathers only removed it to pray when they entered a church or were communing with god. let's just. run across a guide on the battlefield and show he was never buried with his cap. just to move that it was always brought to his widow. if you were going. along with the uniforms and weapons pupils are also told about their forefathers heroic deeds grigori and his friends are proud of these stories. but just because the venue because they came in the cossacks played

a key role in almost all the wars. iteration of boy they were the 1st to go into battle. it's because of them that russia was so powerful. you could. so at the school they also put theory into practice they reenact historical battles to internalise heroic fields from bygone days. it was our that's come here. for school director vitali it's an indispensable exercise. but the school go boom we want your bread isn't enough we have to put on the uniforms of our forefathers and use their weapons and march for kilometers in the same conditions you'll meet you kill em you through the future we have to withstand cold and snow storms for war that's the only way to learn our history in the your numbers but. that

was. after an hour of drills in temperatures of minus 15 degrees celsius the caustic students can finally warm up but before they eat they have to pray. you. shit. i know what i. hear what you're saying it's a big issue it's a commotion we just want to share this adventure with my comrades so if you ever need me i'll help them out but i feel connected to them and perhaps will serve in the same regiment. range for fitness. the older students are doing bodybuilding their big role model is flatter me or

putin. knows what is good in a strong man for you. they can use their see as a strong character is not in your slow speed physically and mentally strong. must just one of the saudis even a martial arts master. just uses the word system that's all you can lead a country of 150000000 people do the work they just it's only he can help our country advance and develop which it was there was. just i don't see anyone who can equal him. good or replace him as president. yes. right. like every weekend grigori is packing his things. tomorrow he's going home it's a 200 kilometer trip. he

lives in a small town of some 8000 people in this house. and it's just so much. i miss you too. these. are gorgeous parents are divorced. his mother yelena works in a medical lab and earns around 300 euros a month. when her son comes home she lets him sleep in the only bad. it is it a one block local class my brother was just going to school because he's a soldier in a special forces unit it's nice you'll notice that it was you do it and he's my role model. that's what a real man and soldier should be like you know beach. the way you approached the chili to. yelena does worry about her boys but her love for her country is paramount. the most important thing is that my sons defend our nation.

they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for their comrades if necessary. is this i've raised my sons to be real men. because. she thinks putin is a good president. he supports the revival of also doxy and has had many churches built for us cossacks that's important. since putin has been in power the russian orthodox church has enjoyed a noticeable revival. in the last 2 decades around a 1000 churches have been restored or rebuilt each year. many were destroyed during stalin's rule. since 201165 churches have been erected in moscow alone another 150 are in the planning. the idea is for every muscovite to have a house of worship within easy reach. the

moscow patriarchate has even been offered the city's green spaces as building sites . the conflict has erupted between residents and church leaders over the tough younker park in northern moscow. on the one side or priests and the faithful who are staking their claim by holding regular man. says here. on the other side are angry locals who don't want to lose their park. chocolatier pre-natal shut is the group spokeswoman for 2 years she's been fighting to have the construction stopped or at least postponed. there are already 4 churches in this district this would be the 5th why did they have to destroy the park when there are already so many people. recently natasha

and her friends were attacked by a group of thugs. nearby doing just what i was punched in the head he gave me a black eye and broke my bra bones both of those generally because i filed a police report i received threats will kill you in the name of our faith looks like little on. the other protesters were beaten up too but to date the police have stood idly by you know like you know i want to ask you if many of us were attacked and injured by a says type thoughts yet nothing was done about it. why don't you would russia we're not going to. meet with.

the group which calls itself 40 times 40 is protected by the authorities. it acts on behalf of the orthodox church the name 40 times 40 refers to the $1600.00 churches that were set to exist in moscow before the revolution former hooligans and martial artists comprise the armed wing of the orthodox church. the group holds president putin in high esteem and claims to act. in russia's interest these scenes show 40 times 40 s violent intervention a tour for young. and their own way they demonstrate the growing power of the russian orthodox church. that. we meet members of the group. one of its leaders are invited us to a church. in the basement they're practicing martial arts. beforehand they also pray here.

for sympathy and welcome. to the little. boy to come lineup to break. very soon to say the city of seeing with her the play gets us to the booth one of fire can be seen as a mini flip national solution it doesn't the group is comprised of a colorful mix of students police officers and i.t. experts like. twice a week they gather here to train after work. for the family so let's go. first and keep moving. you know. what tells us that to defend their who defends the russian church with a sword in a field so it's a good thing for us long it's there to get over it or push the lord so somewhere glover the loss of the orthodoxy in our country are important to us. the notion you

are seeing. during the soviet era such emblems were forbidden. now they're being used to win the faithful respect the abortion laws dives i should say so right we have to protect our members in our cathedrals ok if someone attacks us or makes fun of holy things then we have to try to defend them with a book in which we must defend them thinking of them without any good report that's a shocker for. people. over time 40 times 40 have made themselves indispensable. i here is fortunate that they were taking on more and more duties at 1st we only defended holy sites or she just said that now we also help with the patriarchs church services. they are for that. on the same evening 40 times 40 will be on duty at

a ceremonial mouse attended by then prime minister dmitri maybe i did. i. the cathedral of christ the savior moscow's largest cathedral is heavily guarded only invited guests are allowed to. well see this is the invitation. that if you needed to get in the photo move over where you can almost i lived where i got it that's a secret change itself he used to look can. i can and his friends don't need an invitation. around a dozen people from their group are in attendance. at the officially they're here as stewards for. every other crazy thing or emotions were running.

the cathedral is full of security personnel. the church service is being transmitted live on television. then prime minister dmitri medvedev has come to hear patriarch kirill sermon in person. try to. presidents is a good omen. the. culture of russia start somewhere with our best times were always when political power in the church where united the some little as long as this alliance lasts nothing can happen to us of this star nation with the rights. that he had to have us here to represent that amir puton who was attending

a celebration in st petersburg. started by cable monk a crosley christians like it that putin is an orthodox believer that shit so he supports the church and that's very valuable to us with a little subtle. in spite of their violent methods and his friends are welcome here. 40 times 40 enjoys the support of the church and likely that of the authorities to. at least that's the opinion of the demonstrators protesting against the construction of the church and moscow's trophy on the park. the attacks against them were never investigated. and the touching afghani have been targeted again and again. got a car. in the middle of the night we suddenly heard someone sawing at our door

through the aid of a truck but not since it will take you my husband opened it and 15 masked men stormed in and pointed their guns at us or the movie to the several special units were involved in searching our house including the secret service is this look at it's yes it's close but to see it saw they were all after us. yevgeny and 8 other activists each received unwelcome visitors who were accompanied by t.v. crews. clearly these home searches were meant to serve as warnings. but since you have danny began receiving death threats over the internet he now fears for his life. i want the usual to come talk to me one guy from 40 times 40 wrote that he's digging

a grave for me in the park and that he plans to bury me there. it was when i went to the police they said come back when you're dead we'll cut a little bit of each. but death threats are no laughing matter in russia. journalists lawyers and politicians have all been victims of deadly attacks. many still remember the assassination of opposition politician boris nemtsov just steps from the kremlin nemtsov served as deputy prime minister of russia under boris yeltsin. he later criticized the corruption under vladimir putin . the funeral procession from the soft turned into a protest march against putin. but the russian president denied any responsibility for the killing. of 52 year old engineer wants to make sure the murder isn't forgotten. at the station i wrote a poem from them so. in full. the public should be your reward for

telling the truth that was getting hit with 4 bullets that were about to go. like boris nemtsov hopes that post communist russia would develop into a democratic society. he's never belonged to a political party included. but he's protesting against what he views as a politically motivated murder. and all the while there are people at the top who can contract their subordinates to murder opposition leaders. of today were governed by terrorists so. that. once a week ilya holds a night long vigil. 'd his daughter and son in law worry about him. yes book or no social come back safe and sound each times genesis you say that and then you call us from the pay station to come get you the true you are no the

police department well. exactly and that's not the only danger. but even numerous arrests haven't dissuaded. on this monday he'll once again spend hours in the cold to keep the memory of one of lattimer putin's most vocal critics alive. 50 kilometers to reach the site of the murder the bolshoi mosque for at city bridge near the kremlin. areas. how long have you been there just not march across the news that it's ok we were a bit late anyways. together they've created

a modest memorial. one little just one minute to go. to themself was murdered at 11 31 pm. what state. they observe a minute of silence in front of the walls of the kremlin. heroic ill near it heroes you don't die you know your. guilt you only earth. a few passers by stopped to express their support he was killed because he was against. against with you it's so well very clear.

and everybody knows who killed him. except our judges. that's a very sad story very sad story for all of the 5 chechens acting as contract killers were jailed but there's been no investigation into who ordered the hit. i'm not thompson sure that i'm in the safe when i speak i. was at the start of the the site is cleaned very often to drive would be protesters away. ilya and his friends take turns guarding the memorial 7 days a week around the clock. time and again their vigil has been attacked by ultranationalists one of them struck down old as husband. if it jumped up and up was golds

a man came up to evolve and you don't like putin you do. you want to be told this that you don't own sid why should i like him i think then the man his him and ran off his whole life. if on was taken to the hospital where he died of heart failure. since then his wife has attended the vigil on her own. less than 3 years after numb soft assassination another opposition politician was prevented from taking part in the russian presidential election. protesters chanted down with putin.

alexei nepal and they made a name for himself blogging against corruption he planned to challenge goodman in the 2018 election but was barred from running due to a conviction for a legit embezzle meant. convinced the kremlin leadership fears him. i asked. her. at this rally was arrested and held for 8 hours authorities said the rally hadn't been approved. supporters were furious and chanted russia without putin. i think that's easy but still here because it destroyed our trees. iraq 'd and. russia without boots. oh

you're. right you are right down with the saw our. boys in the music over simone so i don't those that you'll get out of the city official today who has the noose are just what else can you call someone who's been in power for almost 20 years. and that's not. to say that there are russia has degenerated into nothing more than a feudal country that's ruled with bayonets clubs and crossers. yvonne is just 16 he's not to vent his anger in front of the windows of the kremlin but hundreds of police officers are blocking the way. what your son fortunately putin's one again today because there aren't enough of us

. during his 19 years in power glad i'm here putin has a limited his most dangerous opponents. his united russia party holds close to 3 quarters of the seats in the state duma. one of putin's most faithful m.p.'s is fatality malone and. he's the architect of russia's gay propaganda law which has cost many l.g.b. teachers their jobs. so it means that you cannot address just so too and then from saying that. that's sort of me so the me is the normal way of life that's what it's absolutely assured by that's maturity over

a shrink. so we put this tradition into legislation. the gay propaganda law was passed almost unanimously with just one abstention. the european court of human rights has ruled that just criminal tory. malone of comes from st petersburg the former russian capital is also the person place of latin near putin's. long known as russia's window to the west st petersburg is home to many sexual minorities. but gay bars aren't recognisable from the outside. they don't advertise or fly rainbow flags. in a modest apartment on the edge of the city lives

a man who is waging his own personal war on homosexuals. he's a jeweler by day. but at night he takes on the role of a criminal investigator he tracks down. using the internet we relay what she didn't know what you know if i see teachers on a gay or lesbian website when i find out where they work and contact the interior ministry and i don't know their legal action is taken against them when you would have so sometimes they just quit on their own will to show to more doesn't require much evidence one photo on the net is enough which it is a. look at his music teacher. or she pictured here with her girlfriend. there clearly lesbian and peoples can see that she published all or photos

she's been fired one of she when went abroad to escape the pressure we cause the granules. to more claims he's caused 70 educators to be sacked so far. due to his activities he's now barred from entering the u.s. and the e.u. . meanwhile in the ritzy area of moscow where barbara lives her family is looking forward to the school ball. or mother has hired a hairdresser to make sure barbara shines in front of putin's friends. i'm very excited about. this program and. yeah it's like a dream where prince is king to go pro my. side my child dream. but while the revival of a czarist russia may be

a dream for some for others it's a complete nightmare. is a master of the art of confrontation this is wrong veteran of verbal combat says mean you're going to see ya next why the deuce feuded champion of top political talk trying to frighten people who are so far everybody on the side except you turn the conflict zone and join to sebastian as he holds the powerful to account just as a fix for your whichever way you like to spin the conflict zone. 13 to. kill africa. in the morning sees the students in the afternoon a reporter. tara is taking their camera workshop. in her free time she goes

out and reports on ecological issues in her home country south africa it makes people aware and it makes them want to take initiative and join us. africa. 90 minutes on t.w. . beethoven is for me. is for. beethoven is for him. is for. beethoven is for. beethoven is for every. beethoven 2020 the 50th anniversary on d w. this

is news live from the united states confirms small coronavirus cases and any other country including china on its new york is the epicenter stressing the city's health care system to the limit more people are dying health care workers a shortage of critical supplies and it's likely to get worse also on the program to south africa's amit enforces the country's new 3 week coronavirus knocked out queues build up but supermarkets as people rush to stock up. on the just and they deserve.