court on monday, charged with using his office to settle personal scores. he's accused of order of probes into magistrates who investigated him when he used to work as a lawyer. if convicted, he could face up to 5 years in prison. for money, it took my functionals to send it's and that is your news update on this hour. i'm clear. richardson in for lynn for me in the whole team working behind the scenes. thank you so much for watching the sky there. you see? so i thought i'd say what the,

[000:00:00;00] the industry is hooton's as popular as he claims blindly so afraid of his opponent. the post cards might have on the end of now the only fools his supporters and sent them onto the streets where they break the law. we don't know what is the cause of its tabs. it is here if they are victims, it's not a hooton's regina opinion, but of their own stupidity. soaps, in a group as to what told them. i worked in a research institution. i was forced to quit for this. i'm

a political activist the rodney food and has been in power for more than 2 decades. massively, exacerbating divisions with in russian society. one of his favorite tactics is refreshing. the effects of which are most noticeable in moscow. up to now, the metropolis of 12000000 people has flourished economically due to revenues from the oil and gas sector. moscow is held up as a prime example of russian success jeer, average wages are 3 times higher than the more rural regions of the nation. unlike the rest of the country, the russian capital is also a hot bed of growing resistance to the prudent regime,

especially for people who are young and educated. the who belongs to this opposition and what are their goals? the what price are to these critics willing to pay for greater justice and freedom. the soviet flag disappeared from the roof of the kremlin and late 1991 and was replaced with the russian banner, the democracy and freedom to cold. the population appear to be united the

after 70 years of communism, austerity, and state propaganda. people had hopes for a better life, the what's happened to that? russian unity. it's a question i'm keen to explore. in the 19 ninety's, i work as a journalist in moscow. what am i friends with a local colleague? field to tell story. he's now one of the most influential members, improvements in our circle, the lead again for the 1st time in 30 years. hi, how's it going? some of yeah. yeah. so, uh you think there's a, can you still speak russian?

yeah. it's been a while, but i'll give it a go up front on the board and ask it's september 2021. tolstoy, a great grandson of the legendary writer, hope to win re election as a member of parliament. there's a long q. best buy. there's something at stake, that's democracy, people chewing to cast their votes. upon 1st glance, it looks comparable to western elections. you can vote and there are elect torrell lists. the cameras film, the top of attrition casting, as boat state media disseminate the image of a free and fair process. how

many candidates are there? how many? 123122 is besides pollutants united, russia party as a communist and a liberal opposition. both the authorities decide is allowed to run according to the end geo goals. the electoral commission has blocked the candidacy of 9000000 people in national and local polls across the land. european council observers say this isn't democratic. meanwhile, supporters of georgia, tolstoy and pollutants party are confident of their victory. when you mention your position is the minority of the presidential election shows us what the majority thinks pretty related so much since to get this issue. that's just 5000 people out of 150000000. we're not supposed to go on in our country. criminals aren't allowed

in politics. that's why the opposition doesn't have any candidates without free elections. it's difficult to gauge how many supporters prudent actually has the that's why young moscow activists are trying to document the suspected elect or fraud. despite figuring the consequences olga works and marketing. but today she's posing as a supporter of the oppositional communist party, the tension component. i'm not a member of the c p, but i'm pretending to be so i can be here as an election observer. give us more, just a quote with this waiting for this. this transparent box is one of thousands of mobile

ballot boxes belonging to the russian and the total commission they were introduced to make voting easier for the elderly during the corona virus pandemic game. hello, we're from the electoral commission. open the door, please upgrade specialist the sold those interested to know why millions of retired people are voting for police party despite their major pensions. the, the name of the governing parties candidate standing for re election is dimitri peps off the, the, you mockery to patrol. now, yes, where he so you can vote why you requested the visit, didn't you saw it? well, no you yes, i remember who should i vote for? i'll explain everything to you. oh,

i've brought the pin. you can keep that margarita struggles to find the name of the candidate just recommended to her, which is so i was so somebody think that the civic did the nursing home a give you the name of the new me? yes, i heard cuts off. know great, why are you voting for him? there are plenty of other names on the list that you'll hear. i found him. look, she's just voted for pest of the 2 election observer older. this is clearly a set up elderly people are being systematically manipulated before elections, to choose candidates loyal to putting on you for that your phone the good bye for people across next to

a chosen candidate. you already decide. yeah, i'm a grown woman and i'm voting for pepsi from united russia. so please don't folders . i'll help you from other system guy. and usually i grew up in the soviet union. sure. with us. i was in the communist party back then with us. but now i trust the food in party. so this is a, well, they go by you and you do more space, the thing that's cool, i don't think russia is divided or you, but i just love you through g. there's a minority of young people who didn't experience the soviet junior duties, especially who were born after it ended up got thought, i believe was beaten, the some of them have no appreciation for national russian identity, and that's on the d. but i see you, our mistake was to allow a generation of 20 to 30 year olds to mix western culture with russian values. i'm good idea is up and it's in the ceo, those pages teaching this, there's

a whole lot of new cut them would assess these things differently. he was a comrade and friend of boys names off who was shot dead in front of the kremlin and 2015 vladimir survive to poison attacks themselves and as under permanent secret service surveillance, i'm fed up with any photos guide, even when i'm on the phone. i know that there's always a 3rd party listening on the line. obviously it's kind of virginia, the state television also always knows who everything and where i am going to attempt to stay on those nights can feel up here with cameras and broadcast. if i'm a to restore is a very main chat. ask us with that. can you believe say for example me and i said we're being funded by the west by just calling us out pretty picky to june. people sharing us up with you. what condition and i guess what i should now my wife

started asking for all the money is going on. why she hasn't seen any of it yet. you know, some of them, julian looked especially if i don't hear that they're following or wiretapping me as i start to new ideas. it's psychological warfare, but after 2 attacks with me, i'm a co substances being tail doesn't scare me anymore. no, thank you. most guy knew what's really going on in this country and who's behind it all started. in addition to the, the assassination attempt on vladimir cut a motorcycle. there been numerous other poisoned attacks on members of the opposition since by the prudent became russian president in 2000. the most recent case wasn't so long ago. in august 2020 alexi nova on the 1st seriously on a flight from siberia to moscow. the doctors at a hospital and on putting

a volunteer in an induced coma and he was phone out to berlin. alexi and i've only made a statement in may 2024 months after being poisoned. the pretty, i don't know. i mean, yeah, i mean, records is mostly i'm and i'm reading a lot of what's being written about me in moscow. quaker smoking. i'm surprised as the lens patient is going to to prevents when i returned and you've got most of them. we weren't able to judge zillow so which knew now that i'm feeling better deal with us today, i've decided to end my stay in germany by most of the i'm with the on the, on the i'll arrive at moscow airport on the 17th of january of 2021 don't mind. that's the issue now. come and pick me up. but yeah, yeah. as long as most people are you sometimes the chairs, the

older one are to respond to them. i'll just call to action. but your mother, for your disconnect her daughter in trouble, the both are already familiar with the russian prisons. in 2017, those mother and daughter were arrested at a demonstration in downtown moscow. authorities began to track down more harshly and protests. the this picture of the older became a symbol of the opposition, an innocent russian citizen, arrested for no reason the on this day in january of 2021. the active list arrived at moscow airport with thousands of other supporters of involved me to learn that his plan had been diverted.

the protesters didn't hold back boots in you for a bucket tour. alexio's only had been condemning corruption in russia for more than a decade. it's landed him in jail several times this time to face 2 and a half years in prison. and the former lawyer has space more than the nerve agent attack. the opposition partition was the rest of the moment here, right back and russia the it was all in vain. glory, really. he was still arrested but while he was in germany, the only prepared and outrages x was a, a grenade,

just ready to be thrown. the purpose of the video to cause major problems for the kremlin and above all, put in. so i mean, it was you'll see for yourself how much this man left luxury and money and that he's capable of. and the thing the investigation revealed, the russian presidents, megalomania whose families is embezzling public funds and how his k g b error funds are lining their pockets. this doesn't align with the image of putting peddled by state media that of a modest and courageous head of state. the video, which is just under 2 hours long has been doing more than $100000000.00 times on youtube. in the few states across the country, more and more disaffected russians rally behind novelle and the in protest against

ramp and corruption. every request to demonstrate is blocked. this gives the authorities the power to intervene and arrest the participants. dear citizens, we're here to ensure your safety. we have disperse. this is no legal gathering. nevertheless, older and her sister tanya. i meet a friend that they know a lien from previous rally as while thousands of people to take to the streets. many of them students peacefully expressing their opinions, but nonetheless, a great risk. the embrace and i've got a load of posters under my coat. yes, that's it. what scared i might be detained for the. yeah, but thanks to the n g o z,

at least i know the law most were doing this discreetly. the slogans read, i'm not afraid. or we want freedom statements that wouldn't lead to jail in other countries. just in case, oh, go into a friend of lena, stay on the sidelines. let's see what, that's what i had a bad feeling about this. don't you? with all the situation escalates? what does that, why are you taking her? without any warning, alina is seized by officers. tell me where you're taking her to which station. what did you do? why are you taking her? don't you don't even know yourself,

because the we were just standing on the pavement. where are you taking? my friend? is this a joke? listen to me, do you know why she's been arrested stuff? well, what's the cause of these nights? the police are clearly just following orders to detain as many demonstrators as possible. in the chaos alina is able to let old a know which station she's being taken to the police station since the hello. you see me and hear me. okay. would you assume that a few days later the president takes questions from students? in spite of his friendly, calm tone that may prudent issues a clear warning to his critics. what i think about what's your view of the current situation?

thank you. well, i'm supposed to, but thank you for your question. no, i'd like to make it clear once again, let's go back to everyone has the right to free expression at you show that this can only happen within the existing legal framework. now what i, what i'd say you would push was in your, anyone going a step too far in this regard? this isn't just acting culture productively system avoids them even the dangerously people still going to do an outburst dangerous in the more than 20 years. that pollutants been in power to successfully restricted the right of assembly. if to a more resumed critics meet, that's enough to be labeled as an illegal demonstration. luckily now by now you will pass along the encourages his supporters to take to the street and thereby break the law of this is how they then get caught up on the wheels of justice. used to what did they must say name e cause yes, their victims obviously is the end of done,

but not of hooton's regime is they claim to is going easy and look okay. but of their own stupidity. soaps in a group as to the arena, was released after one night and a so she faced so heavy fine and a child at the moment. she's not doing too well financially for activism has cost her her job and she's just trying to make ends meet the she's working in a dog, rooming parlor. she loves animals, but this job's a far cry. bumper actual expertise. yes, yes. i'm an engineer in the midst all industry and i worked at the research institute. oh, i thought to them. yeah, they didn't find me, but i was forced to quit because of my political activism. almost died. yeah,

that's correct. i help people who are arrested and i demonstrate the civil rights to my niece and my bosses didn't like the fact that i was working for the opposition. i think in one day i was visited work by people from the f s. b. the domestic secret service alina lost, her trust in russian state media long ago. like many young people, she gets her information from independent new sites online. they paint a completely different picture of pollutants, russia, bava's findings of my grandparents watch, tv old, a new piece, which is they can't conceive of the fact that what's being put in front of them might not be correct. and they think whatever's on tv is the truth. was nice book pulls up for this and they tell me they tried to change my political views. we

always ended up arguing nixon with these days. i just avoid the subject because i know the discussion won't lead any way you, but i'm always particularly, i mean, my guess case e mail eastern usually soviet times, no one believe the state propaganda stonebridge problem. the people even laughed at the headlines and the see piece paper, proud of jewelry, forgot to bring to the 2 were living in an empire full of lice, except the whole machine runs much more efficiently and actually annual to them. and i must confess, there's much more talents that play than in the past century. kremlin propaganda is still feeling. the majority of russians and influencing millions of people get those things back out. there are also millions of people, especially the young who stopped believing putin's lies, which i'm, we're seeing them at the demo. and i wanted to mention that because older dis, information tactics no longer work with this generation. the regime deploy is the

fear factor. alina is example shows that this isn't just about losing a job or paying a fine. in the worst case scenario, she could end up serving a longer prison sentence. something that's already happened to many other demonstrators. on the 27th of july 2019, for example, tens of thousands marched through central moscow demanding that their candidate be allowed to run to the office of mayor. the police took a brutal approach intervening and making random arrest me. there were scuffles with the police which also involved igor, the young man in the jean shorts and gray t shirts. later, authorities claim that the court hit this police officer so hard. he could no longer stand up. as this footage clearly shows, it was a complete fabrication. nevertheless, hugo was sentenced to 3 years in prison to the senior

portrait this chest. he's got one more year to serve and show us both. the boy for ego, his partner dasha dispelled the end of their shared dream to make up for this contender . then yansa dish can we were planning to start our own tourism business of a commercial show for and around vacationers or even wanted to buy a mini van. what don't you so here are 1st posts about it and what they've left or equal or was sentenced on next. he asked me to marry him, but i don't like to marry someone in a prison state media presented igor as a dangerous criminal. the public defamation of opposition members is typical of today's russia. family and friends are shocked at the har sentences headed down to innocent citizens. the task list available show which i'll send,

that is me. but we will for traders terrible people's interesting. and then after the trial, i received threats from others saying they wanted to shoot a burn or hang me just a moment. i'm with the power and the to produce people who make and implement the lowest head of shred of honesty, justice or sense just nice to speak or would have been given a suspended sentence at the very most of them, most of them will fall. and then when that board show the decrease in holding ego is located in data abroad, formerly stolen grad, the. it's about 1000 kilometers from his home city of moscow. which means that few people can visit the video today. his lawyer has once again, made the long journey here to file an application for an early release at the relevant regional court.

the the hearing appears comparable to western traditional systems. igor is able to give a statement via video link from prison. although he was eligible for parole. months ago, state prosecutors oppose his release. be sending you guys, and i see no reason why my client can be released early experience this. i can't understand the prosecutor's reasoning, or decent the lawyer's words fall on deaf ears. the ego is good behavior also counts for nothing. i request that the court released me on probation. i have done everything i've been told to do in prison,

and i don't know what else i'm supposed to do. it's no surprise that the court denies the motion that the judge is about to retire. he won't be taking any more risks. of the questions you have and you need to understand how you become a judge in russia in the 1st place. she said throwing you there. all former justice officials in the 1st 1015 years of their careers. they see her closely judges and prosecutors work together and then also when they get to be judges themselves, they have to behave the same way on the point the lack of an independent judiciary. these many russians defenseless against the tyranny of the state. when he was still everyone in this country newest, that in 99 percent of criminal proceedings, the accused,

despite of guilty official supreme court statistics said there's one equitable for every $10000.00 verdicts from that even during the style in the you, the numbers look better as opposed to a scrape. this machinery ever oppression. thousands of government critics have only one option. they have to flee russia by any means necessary. the 1000 kilometers to the west of most scout estonian. not the miscellaneous were the 1st republics to win independence. after the collapse of the soviet union in 1991, the baltics have remained a popular holiday destination for russians, or there's a significant russian community in the region to this day,

the estonia, latvia, and miscellaneous, enjoying the e u. n. nato in 2004 series that most kyle could research. historical territorial claims have existed here for a long time. not just since the annexation of crimea in 2014, or the attack on large parts of ukraine in 2022. the many dissidents have relocated to bill news. the capital of lithuania, the russians are granted political asylum here. located not far from independence square. this former russian k g b building has been turned into

a museum. reminder of soviet repression. the, the cells are similar to those use back then to incarcerate these 3 men for their political views. it triggers a vivid nightmarish memories from mikhail, dimitri and vladimir the at $35.00 demetrius the oldest of the 3. he had to pay for his political activism with 14 years in prison, even though he didn't hurt anyone. he was a victim of the russian justice systems, despotism. the stuff doesn't look bad at all.

i told you about the steel beds you can't sleep well on those because they're too short from the infection, which one? it was exactly the same for me back then. but this has windows phone. you have all the good care i was tortured. are you in russia? confessions are beaten out of you, but the basis to believe it's because i knew it is nice and there you were being very nice day for me. of course, divide from one you don't. they are quite creative and hit you where it hurts the most in wishing. and the they also use electricity from an old generator or it came up in august and how much the price of insurance was that applied? oh, well we should i leave a union to the genitals normally, associates. it's sometimes to the face on one with the sheets,

split soul for the year at the mercy of their ingenuity, fantastic, or by new or doesn't and they know where it's most painful. sure. funny when you at the bottom of the site to the years as well to say to year loops or cheek produce footage was found with a hidden camera in a russian prison. in the summer of 2017, several guards are torturing a naked man. when it went public, the film caused a scandal, but the perpetrators got off with extremely lenient sentences, the capital one of them. so when you are cuz i wanted to kill myself to end the torture is, for example, when there's another guy slashed my throat. this is house, it is not a lot like to die out. as i filed down the tooth brush handle and rammed into my

neck. you will have full list of imaginative stuff. if i was going to die, and if you don't want them, then it should at least be fast. okay, that's what you said in the dimitry was taken to the hospital eventually he managed to escape abroad like so many others the it's estimated at since 2008 some 1800000 russians have left their homeland, including some of the nation's best mines. this has had a huge, really negative impact on the federation's development. for example, sooner there is

a decision who now lives in bill news. he's an item network specialist like i had or he had to flee moscow in 2019 to avoid being jailed for joining an anti pollutant demonstration, a duplicate or some deposit you spend to 3 years in prison for nothing. if you're 25 or 30, those are your best years. you've got your whole life ahead of you. do you remember about the way for you? yeah, the most that i knew, and so there's no justice in that country and there's no security, a new economic development data and stores often and you can't be sure you won't end up in jail for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. i'll stay and i've used to beat that belongs to do to you, but i read all the time on twitter about people who want to leave. you are who you've already left, resided. who is it? these aren't regular workers, i guess you'd be there. highly educated people with university degrees, doctors, engineers, and so forth, things, and yet it varies the way our nation's going beat. most people don't want to live

there anymore. that's what i've used. it's the depth of the economy, sir. good, good. you have settled in paris, france, he was russia's envoy to the european bank for reconstruction and development. he was forced into exile after sharing comments critical of pollutants in our circle, the efficient enough. so i'm going to go to the in 2013 ice and ultimately the nation must fight corruption. auction. there was, the friends told me that vladimir putin wasn't especially thrilled by that. most of the boss and he's often asked if he's concerned with the high numbers of educated people leaving russia. i think i got the right. his answer is always, you know, when we are a free country, he was not finding it, but generally the price for the other one the show. and it's obvious why he says that the of still more anyone who's educated, understands that russia is limping behind the rest of the world. what is the threat to his power?

and for pretend it's better if people like that flipped abroad. what goodness, the way that you're looking to answer but criticism is growing within russia to, in regions where people's lives are a far cry from that of urban centers like moscow is leads to what i see life in russia is nothing but joy. uh no. need to look anywhere else. it daugherty lloyd vladimir exit off is an electrician and blogger, who comes from total pets, a small russian town of $13000.00 residents. his internet report on the poor state of his home has ruffled the feathers of the powerful needed the news lead. this is the true face of hooters, russia. everything's destroyed like this. dairy farm was going to be secure. no more bombs are needed here. thank you. nato no longer needs to destroy russia links

the rest of the flooding or a got off, had to secretly flew to the west because somebody contacted me through facebook and said he could help me 1st. and he wasn't an activist, just a regular citizen, so much. and then he drove with me through bella, roost to the lithuanian border to a lake. and just i had a water proof rucksack and slippers with me because i jumped out of the moving car straight into the water and swim half a kilometer across the lake at night with gps all the way. so meanwhile, he and his son just carried on driving without stopping, just in case we've been followed. we, i asked him, do you realize you're helping a criminal? and he answered, i'd like to teach my son about courage, realistic, me vladimir, had to leave his wife and children behind. all because he spoke the truth about the

misery of life and rule russia to the who is this obama mediation? obviously trump. i mean, the way to who the hell is that he's a nobody compared to putting aside there just it's up to you or nothing. yes. got put in place them. like i've said, oh yeah, but a good way for you. what kind of look here. we often get power cuts and see if we can cope with that. when i see it that's good. we can manage without light. told me that way. we imagine how the americans would feel that maybe they'd be finished, which is to be sure, i just don't get them here. because here according to official figures, the average monthly income in rural areas is equivalent to $300.00 euros, with no sign of an upswing. as a show strength all put in can do with allude to the glory of long past victories during his commemorative speeches. i cannot fall and i'm not sure that on the enemy

attack, which our nation invaded it to destroyers as a state and a nation that looked at them up to celebrating associated victory over nazi germany . doesn't make up the dissolution of the soviet union. the demonizing, the west tops. okay. national pride, the because the us, we retreated from the west every time i do agree, it forced its economic and cultural model. and then as well as it's moral codes on to us in an aggressive manner, model and then the rest and it's in do people really believe that when evil put in is gone, you that'll be the end. would you eat that? russia will just submit to the west who doesn't know that won't be the case, the middle school to or you may read them. so what is your new? that'd be the executioners are back in russia. we've always respected international law,

but we'll defend our national interest with them. any price should match and that's something that means it is cheaper. there are many regimes have been in power in russia, so there was sarcasm, beach, styling ism and everything after that using this moment jumbo started here. shortly i describe the current one as a post modern dictatorship, with a pseudo democratic facade, or the case with farcical elections and legal procedures and the justice system resembling that of the soviet union. that's just how much the,

like the giant entrepreneurs from nairobi are struggling to keep their businesses applies to out you up with somebody, a difference, somebody a i could afford to spend this from the cost of living has gone so high. the young night will be and have the side of the city is no longer going to break that has so they're moving away from the, the tape it looks to quit for the 77 percent in 30 minutes. d,

w. immerse yourself in the world. in the virtual reality research lab, scientists switched, they slipped into criminal shoes with them for your headset. it's a complicated attempt to prevent future crimes tomorrow. today in 90 minutes on dw world in progress. a, a tough calls to everyone who wants to know more about the topic, 2nd son of noon, about his stories, the on the head line with that inside in depth interviews and see the world in progress. it's e w,

the, you're watching data. the news coming to live from birth. these rarely military says it has switching casa in to, as it continues its ground offensive inside the territory. it has also intensified airstrikes over the past 24 hours, causing health officials that say hundreds of people have been killed. also coming up on the show, the united states a top and diplomat pushes for more aid to reach casa, we're working, as i said,