world wide front of ours and sections of now past the 30 knowing the phone. off that we're going to visit russians cossack's in our documentary series dr phil for now though for me bryan thomas the entire team thanks so much for being here and there are joined at the top of the hour have a great. cut . and you hear me now on yes we're going to need you and how downstairs german chancellor when we bring you an angle of madoff and you've never tried to have a surprise yourself with what is possible who is medical really what moves and want also to talk to people who follow along the way maurice and critics alike join us from eccles last august.

last winter in moscow. thousands of people lined up in the middle of the night to be a part of an old ritual. the russian soul where the single. which we are facing god makes a strong of the air out here and yet that. something resembling a baptism for adults is taking place next to a church. the faithful take a quick step and ice cold water. on the ground home during the soviet era this russian orthodox. ritual to mark

a pitch and all but disappeared now it's being revived. this is not just about faith it's a way to show the world but russia is capable of. this world. 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. but. this ritual good night's russians in different parts of the country. and the faithful are impressed that their president is leading by example. with both the brought about the love of a good russian or a religious russian if you spray people to his roots his countrymen a system in which he let us. want to bring about these values you need someone to

lead the way. and that's blood in your plot 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 t.v. a 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 modify 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 have well equipped and russia saying the world. the main specialty of it is the him by saying that i can all. just spend a crater it's one of one of the symbols of our channel. in 2017 andre often as he has made international headlines when he produced a video offering the russian homosexuals a free one way ticket to the u.s. . we just need to publish this is not a joke we really want you to move there where you can openly submit to your students your. i. sorry 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. was the us that's a young video if i'm underage often r.c.u. welcome to the russian answer to. the program spite for family values and against abortion and they depicts the west as decadent and corrupt. these are also favorite topics of owner constantine mother feel. the 45 year old business tycoon amassed his wealth through banking and internet companies. people call him the orthodox oligarch 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 star 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 modified has also founded a school 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 czars and famous russian writers constant reminders of the pre-revolutionary russian empire. the point was you know for children true no more space paintings. and dates it's given something to your hearts and to your mind to you and if you are not meshing has been your module this would remember you know some some nice you know it back to russian history. of to make

sure nothing distracts from the special atmosphere cell phones 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 the phonic was if it was not along with the classical education pupils are also taught good manners proper etiquette and dancing. the way 15 year old barbara is the daughter of an oil company c. you know she's attended the school for 4 years. not too bad. i see only 10.

i think they're doing so in this traditional dance was very popular in the 19th century. and we're practicing it for our schools anniversary celebrations was when our parents and many other guests will be clear to you boys. 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 on a few. 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 choices for. barbara lives in an exclusive residential area not far from the school with her parents and her younger brother. a 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. for someone wishing i'm a completely normal teenager distillate i listen to alternative rock 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 you

know at school they tell us that homosexuality is something bad. but i think that all people are equal. and it was you know. there's 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. so this is siberian sturgeon was the favorite dish of people of the north. that although 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 cyril.

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 one of the delicious. she barbara's mother anastasio is also preparing a siberian specialty. so to speak in london or impel many dumplings filled with ground russians love them and that's just simply. 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 we. are on the way glad you're here. it is up. here in russia it's a tradition to say a toast before drinking another glass. fletcher for that post is

a hostile more stores and you drink to your big family may it remain united that's what's most valuable to us as the. voice of the audience and that you honor tradition to you and your specific thanks 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 is pretty good in every major changes lead to violence. if you please could you let me push into the risk of you we've always had bloody revolution losing to crews with many deaths and lives shattered. ladyship. all. 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 unions of 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 don cossack culture. grigori is 15 years old his father and his grandfather with 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 wished or so today russia is subject to many dangers from abroad with a little before the which is a she should i have to defend my motherland one day. i mean prepared to sacrifice my life with. the stories we need to instill. grigori has already internalized the cost of values of patriotism militarism and orthodoxy. it's a mixture that matches flat 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 the full girth and therefore pale the fly exe of the russian federation and the rest of regional jets go our course will be smooth enough.

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 know i expect our president to hold the country together and ensure our welfare system missed any. today his most important duty is the security of our country and must see to it that there is peace in our nation because what's happening at our borders frightens us. many. grigori and his fellow peoples 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. you go one of those are good for the cossacks 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 that died on the battlefield he was never buried with his casket. it was always brought to his widow. if he 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 cossacks played a key role in almost all the wars. they were the 1st to go into battle. it's because of them that russia was so powerful. so at the school they also put theory into practice they reenact historical battles to internalise heroic fields from bygone days. this was a car that's come here. for school director vitali it's an indispensable exercise. but the school go boom when what we've read 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 killing you through we have to withstand cold and snow storms for war that's the only way to learn our history in

the in the. eastern. 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. oh. shit. i know what i feel. you just saw me at the biggest race of all motion history i 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 be to serve in the same regiment. had means for fitness. the

older students are doing bodybuilding their big role model is glad i'm here putin. now i think it is good in a strong man for you. very unusual here see as a strong character this is him yourself physically and mentally strong this must just one of the saudis even a martial arts master with more prestigious awards system that's how he can lead a country of 150000000 people yet the more they just see china he can help our country advance and develop much as there was. years of. i don't see anyone who can equal him. good will replace him as president. yes. 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. for corey's 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 was brought low cost my brother. he's a soldier in a special forces unit it's not as well as you to know he's my role model. that's what a real man and soldier should be like beach. he produced a chilly. she does worry about her boys but her love for her country is

paramount. the most important thing is that my sons defend our nation. and they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for their comrades if necessary. is this i've raised my sons to be real men of speaking. 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 masses here. on the other side are angry locals who don't want to lose their park. far prettier natasha is the group's spokeswoman for 2 years she's been fighting to have the construction stopped or at least postponed. you shots or 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. i think they're going to. just know what i was punched in the head who gave me a black eye and broke my brow bone welcome to because generally because i filed a police report i received threats will kill you in the name of our faith looks like little. other protesters were beaten up to about to date the police have stood idly by you like you know i want to ask you many of us were attacked and injured by s.s. type thoughts yet nothing was done about it. why didn't you would russia we're not going to. meet with. you. and.

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 that turf a young couple. and their own way they demonstrate the growing power of the russian orthodox church. we meet members of the group. one of its leaders invited us to a church. in the basement

there practicing martial arts. beforehand they also pray here. talk of sympathy and welcome. the waiter cumberlands lined up to break. very soon to say the city of seeing with her the plea gets us to the booth what if i can be seen as really flip national solution eventually group is comprised of a colorful mix of students police officers and i t experts like the twice a week they gather here to train after work. for the family so let's go. first and keep moving. you know. what archie on tells us that to defend their conservative faith they need to be physically fit. single source articles with

cigarettes and it will work for emblem is of course an orthodox knight who defends the russian church with a sword in a field that's why it's a good thing for a muslim it's there to be overlooked or pushed a little so much longer than most of the orthodoxy in our country are important to us and that's the walters the russian you are seeing. during the soviet era such emblems were forbidden. now they're being used to when the faithful respect the bush and those times i should say sorry we have to protect our members in our cathedrals i think 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 the thinking of those with those in the crib report that's a shocker for. people i think over time 40 times 40 have made themselves into sponsible. it was fortunate that there's more taking on more and more duties at 1st we only

defended holy sites or she just said that now we also hope that the patriarchs church services will disappear after that. on the same evening 40 times 40 will be on duty at a ceremonial mouse attended by then prime minister dimitri meant to be if. the cathedral of christ the savior moscow's largest cathedral is heavily guarded only invited guests are allowed to. listen to this is the invitation. it's a preview needed to get in the photo i don't believe you can almost read where i got it that's a secret john did he used to work his. chum and his friends don't need an invitation. around

a dozen people from their group are in attendance. officially they're here stewards you know you were little you know for sure we have a crazy man who can reverse just what i thought it. was the cathedral is full of security personnel. the church service is being. it's live on television. then prime minister dmitri medvedev has come to hear patriarch kirill sermon in person. the. trochee gives presidents is a good omen. the. culture of russia start a new somewhere with our best times were always when political power in the church

were united the some little as long as this alliance lasts nothing can happen to us it's the star nation with the rights. that she had of us here to represent vladimir putin who is attending a celebration in st petersburg. stretching for cable number of christians like it that putin is an orthodox believer that shares that he supports the church and that's very valuable the loss of the little son. 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 in moscow's tough young the park. the attacks against

them were never investigated. and the touching afghan he had been targeted again and again. was or will ball got a car the most needed stuff in the middle of the night we suddenly heard someone sawing at our door of the interview truck but not civil to my husband opened it and 15 masked men stormed in and pointed their guns at us. the movie to the several special units were involved in searching our house including the secret service. it was good to see a 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 any began receiving death threats over the internet he now fears for his life. i want the usual to come talk to you 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 no good to be printed. 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 snaps off just steps from the kremlin . soft served as deputy prime minister of russia under boris yeltsin. he later criticized the corruption under vladimir putin. the funeral procession from that soft turned into a protest march against putin but the russian president tonight any responsibility

for the killing. of 52 year old engineer wants to make sure the murder isn't forgotten. with the still i wrote a poem for them stuff 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. and that. once

a week ilya holds a night long vigil. his daughter and son in law worry about him. yes book or no social or come back safe and sound each times journalist as you say that many call us from the pay station to come get you truly are no the police department well. exactly and that's not the only danger yes. but even numerous arrests haven't dissuaded. on this monday to once again spend hours in the cold to keep the memory of one of lattimer putin's most vocal critics alive. really a drive spiffy kilometers to reach the site of the murder the bolshoi mosque for at city bridge near the kremlin.

they asked you to call how long have you been are just numbers are cold and then use the words 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 wasn't killed because he was against. against bolton it's so 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 upset sure that i'm in the safe when i speak i. was there to stop them and 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 you just a thought was darwin's a man came up to evolve and you don't like putin you do. you want to be told this that you don't understand why should our knowledge and i think then the man his him and ran off this whole. event 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. alexina von they made a name for himself the lobbying against corruption he planned to challenge in the 2018 election but was barred from running due to a conviction for allegedly battlement. convinced the kremlin leadership fears him. 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.

it was. you i was feeling like i said i was here yesterday because you say destroyed our god st. iraq 'd and. russia without. knowing you are there let's look you are like i've. done with the saw our. lives i. of course i'm going to go over sloan so i don't those that you'll get to do this to you today who has the newts are just what else can you call someone who's been in power for almost 20 years. that's not. to say i am by russia has degenerated into nothing more than a futile country that's ruled with bayonets clubs and crossers. yvonne is just 16 but he'd love to vent his anger in front of the windows of the

kremlin but hundreds of police officers are blocking the way. for yourself fortunately putin is one again today because there aren't enough of us . during his 19 years in power let me have 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 teachers their jobs. so it means that you cannot address just so off to an infant saying that.

that's sort of me southern me is a normal way of life that's what it's absolutely assured by that's majority of russians so we put this tradition into legislation. the gay propaganda law was passed almost unanimously with just one abstention. and . 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 of 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 were there when she didn't know what you know if i see teachers on a gay or lesbian website then i find out where they work and contact the interior ministry if you are not on their legal action is taken against them when you that would have so sometimes they just quit on their own what 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. pictured here with her girlfriend and it be her clearly lesbian and peoples can see that she published all or photos now she's been fired. she even went abroad to escape the pressure will cause again you. 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 barber shines in front of putin's friends. i'm very excited about. this trial and.

yeah it's like a dream where princes came to her own land. my child dreamed up. but whilst the revival of a czarist russia may be a dream for some for others it's a complete nightmare. to the point. the payments clear positions international perspectives. things are getting increasingly strains between the e.u. and china are the 2 sides have been hoping to sign a landmark investment deal in reality though they're hardly on speaking terms why find out on to the point shortly. to the point that.

90 minutes on t.w. . did beethoven in fact jazz did do. did is it does about a $61.00 tb to. some of the romance of stolen beethoven. of course the subconscious always one. thing is clear. plato's just wildly popular. and she assured her. i'm not sure. but how would the world sound with the biggest composer of all time i constantly begin to imagine a world class horn player singer willis on a musical journey of discovery. without beethoven. this week on.

this is the news live from israel prepares to return to lockdown the country will be the 1st developed nation to enter the 2nd period of restrictions it's being met with protests in tel aviv the lock down will go into effect as the jewish new year begins later today also on the program india's government oh just students to return to school starting next.