on this saturday night, removed from power, protesters seize control of ukraine's capital at the end of a deadly week. what now? we're live in kiev tonight. plus our exclusive interview with the ambassador to the u.n. captured. the world's most wanted drug lord, thought to be the chief supplier of illegal drugs to the u.s. how he was finally taken down. religious freedom? angry protests over a new measure in arizona that would allow businesses to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. and, olympic dreams come true. not only for american teenager mikaela shiffrin who won gold, but for those there just to watch.

good evening, it has been a day of fast-moving developments in ukraine's capital, about 600 miles from here in sochi, a day after agreeing to a broad series of reforms and concessions, the country's president up and fled the presidential palace and protesters now seem to be in control. the parliament has voted to hold new elections, all this following a week of deadly protests. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is in kiev tonight. richard, what's the latest from there? >> reporter: good evening, lester. yesterday, ukraine's president agreed to political compromises. today, the protesters thought he was showing weakness. and decided to push ahead. and they got even more than they were expecting. this day of revolution began with uncertainty. we saw a few protesters blocking

government buildings, not many, but word was spreading that the police had abandoned kiev. then we came to the presidential offices. once the most protected buildings in the city, they were also in the hands of anti-government demonstrators. the state was gone. and demonstrators spoke to reporters. do the protesters plan to take the rest of kiev? or are you stopping here? >> the protesters are taking the whole city. >> reporter: but was that possible? we continued to explore and saw more people coming out. their confidence growing. the government had simply vanished. there was a bizarre carnival mood with a mix of families, children on scooters, men in masks, protesters with makeshift armor, and people walking their dogs in what only yesterday had been a war zone. what is going on here? >> it's our victory. >> reporter: people are now gathering here in front of

parliament and starting to celebrate. they realize something profound is happening here, that their new revolution for democracy may have won, hungry for updates, they pressed their faces to parliament's gates for updates. broadcast on loudspeakers. parliament was taking over, the joy was spreading. lawmakers came out to tell the crowds president yanukovych's days in power were over. parliament voted to impeach him. >> we are witnessing the collapse of dictatorship. but the idea is to start creation of a new ukraine, which will be based on human rights and human dignity. >> reporter: but there was still one burning question here, where was the president? he certainly wasn't at his chalet outside kiev. the ukrainians took it over, peering in through windows, seeing for the first time how their pro-moscow leader lived, by a private pond with a private zoo. but president yanukovych was not finished yet.

he appeared on television from where he had fled in western ukraine and vowed not to resign. by the evening it was clear he had lost the capitol. and more. the police joined the opposition. the army refused to back the president. and parliament ordered the release of yulia tymoshenko, yanukovych's main rival. he'd thrown her in jail two years ago. when she arrived at independence square, the protesters believed they'd won. today's developments were exhilarating for the protesters here in the square. but there are challenges ahead for this country. some ukrainians still support the president and his close ties with russia. lester? >> all right, richard. thanks. earlier this evening in an exclusive interview i spoke with the u.s. ambassador to the united nations, samantha power, about the upheaval in ukraine as well as an important vote today

in the u.n. regarding syria. i began by asking her if the apparent removal of ukraine's president was the outcome the u.s. wanted or envisioned. >> well, our position has been the same throughout this crisis. we have pushed for nonviolence from the very beginning. pushed for constitutional change in the creation of a coalition government. and we're still hopeful amid very fluid events that cooler heads can prevail and that compromise can be achieved. >> some might call this a power vacuum that has been created. in the meantime, would you envision that ukraine will become more closely aligned with the europe and the u.s. and less so with russia going forward? >> we're thinking mostly about the people of ukraine right now. and it is just critical that the violence stop. that a compromise be achieved and that the people come together so that the ukrainians can decide their own future. >> all right, let's turn to the resolution approved. and the security council today regarding syria. opening up more access to humanitarian aid.

explain to me what it will accomplish and what the need is in syria. >> the need is desperate, this resolution today lays out a whole series of very specific measures that the syrian regime, which has behaved as you know deplorably from the beginning of this conflict and any other actor with weapons has to abide by in order to provide food to those civilians in need. >> you tweeted out that getting this resolution approved was the easy part, implementation is the tough part. where are the chiefs in this? >> i agree right now, this is just a piece of paper but it is an important piece of paper. the show of unity is very important but it is not just on behalf of the demands. it's also an behalf of a preparedness to come back to the council and take those further steps and sanction those who might actually deviate from the resolution or continue to hurt civilians. >> samantha power, ambassador to the united nations from the united states. more on the conflicts in ukraine and syria tomorrow on "meet the press."

david gregory will have a exclusive interview with national security adviser, susan rice. and the u.s. is also closely watching developments in venezuela where there were more mass protests today. tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of president nicolas maduro took to the streets in competing rallies. amid fears of new violence. so far at least eight people have been killed since anti-government protests began a week and a half ago. tonight, the world's top drug lord is in custody after decades on the run. joaquin el chapo guzman is accused of smuggling billions in cocaine and other illegal drugs into the u.s. nbc's mark potter has more on the dramatic capture. >> reporter: the arrest of joaquin el chapo guzman early this morning ends the long reign of the man known as the most powerful drug trafficker in the world. even though he had been the target of intense manhunts, it's been 13 years since guzman, the

head of the sinaloa drug cartel, has been in the hands of authorities. officials say he was arrested in this condominium in the resort town of mazatlan. reportedly in the company of an unidentified woman. the mexican attorney general says that no one was hurt in the arrest, and it shows mexican commitment to work on the cartels. in addition to being wanted in mexico, guzman has been indicted in half a dozen u.s. cities. >> he is undoubtedly the most ruthless organized crime leader on the face of the globe today. fortunately tonight he is behind bars where he belongs. >> reporter: guzman's drug cartel is often extremely violent, as it forcibly takes over drug routes from other cartels. the sinaloa group is also known for its use of tunnels, some underneath the u.s. border. it could also affect supplies. >> chapo guzman runs the organization that imports the

most illegal drugs into the u.s. his arrest will have a significant impact on the ability of heroin and methamphetamine coming into the united states. >> reporter: guzman was named by forbes magazine as one of the world's billionaires. ♪ he was also the subject of narco songs, especially after his escape from intense scrutiny until he fled from a maximum security prison in 2001 from which he fled in a laundry truck, never to be caught until now. tonight, the attorney general says that guzman's activities contributed to the death and destruction of millions of lives across the globe, through drug addiction, violence and corruption. other officials worry that guzman's arrest could lead to another bloody turf war as rival traffickers now try to take over his routes. lester? >> mark potter tonight. a spoiler alert as we take turn to the second to last day of competition here at the sochi olympics. we'll talk about results that

have been widely reported. that includes a disappointing day for team usa. our chris jansing joins me now with details. hi, chris. >> well, today ends what has been a great run for team usa at these games. it was their first day without a medal, including the men's hockey team which lost the bronze medal game to finland. but that doesn't mean there was not some celebrating going on. is it a boy band or olympians? team usa's 5,000 meter short relay silver medalists have some moves off the ice. >> couldn't be more happy. to be with this group of guys. >> reporter: after 11 days with no medals for short track they ended the drought last night. >> the u.s. will capture a medal. >> reporter: and said watch out next time. >> we're going to have to become more extreme. we'll have to do black flips every straightaway. >> skate with samurai swords. >> reporter: another american-born athlete added a second gold in alpine

snowboarding. but vic wild celebrated under a different red, white and blue. raised in the u.s., wild competed for russia, frustrated that training money was going to "x" game sports. his russian-born wife won bronze. >> we're going to hang out, we got our medals. >> yeah, probably sleep with them. >> reporter: with one day of competition left, russia leads the medals race. american ted ligety was within striking distance in the slalom, but was among the top 13 that didn't finish the second bronze. today, criticizing a course. set by a croatian player's dad. >> makes for a pretty unfair race. >> reporter: and a very different kind of race is on off field of play, to find homes for thousands of stray dogs. the russian billionaire who had this shelter built said sochi will need outside help. the concern obviously is that they will be put down. >> no, no, no chance. we'll try. and we have good people. >> reporter: this snowboarder

tweeted her puppy is home in denver and that gus kenworthy's puppies could be on a plane next week. i asked if he considered the games a success, he said honestly it is too early to tell, but he is convinced the $1.38 billion he put into the games will be a good investment. >> chris, thank you. and back in the u.s., arizona governor jan brewer has yet to say if she will sign a controversial bill passed this week by the legislature there. it's called the religious freedom restoration act. opponents called it the right to discriminate bill. we get the details from nbc's joe fryer. >> reporter: just hours after arizona lawmakers passed a controversial bill, a few hundred angry protesters sounded off outside the state capitol. they're upset with legislation that would allow business owners based on their religious beliefs to deny service to gays and lesbians. >> it feels like it opens the door for discrimination in a

huge, broad spectrum the way it is written. >> reporter: supporters argue it protects the religious rights of private businesses. >> this bill discriminates against no one, on the contrary it strengthens against discrimination. >> reporter: they point to lawsuits around the country like washington state where a florist was sued after not providing flowers for a same-sex wedding and oregon last month where a court ruled a bakery violated the rights of a couple after not making a wedding cake. >> you should not have to forfeit your religious freedoms and rights merely because you want to work or start a business in the state of arizona. >> reporter: but business is what might suffer, some argue, if the bill becomes law. >> we have had four companies call us to tell us we'll be dropped from their list as a potential investment location unless governor brewer vetoes the bill. >> reporter: a pete rhee pizzeria in tucson is so upset with the bill, it posted this

sign -- we reserve the right to refuse service to arizona legislators. this comes four years after arizona passed a controversial immigration law signed by governor jan brewer. as for the latest bill today, brewer told us today while in washington, d.c., she's not yet sure if she'll sign it or veto it. >> i don't have to make a decision until next friday, so i have plenty of time. >> reporter: but she has plenty of voices trying to sway her powerful decision. joe friar fryer, nbc news, los angeles. when "nightly news" continues this saturday, it is one of the main tourist attractions here in sochi, joseph stalin's vacation home, we'll take you inside. and later, we'll show you how mikaela shiffrin shares her olympic dreams with a friend.

we are now back from sochi, the current olympics aside, one of the attractions here in this black sea coast resort, the vacation home of joseph stalin. as you're about to see it says a lot about one of the most murderous dictators in russia. preserved in the hills of sochi stands the stately village that became the favorite of russia's most notorious 20th century leader, joseph stalin, more than 70 years ago. the ceiling is the original? >> yes, the ceiling is chestnut. >> reporter: this is very austere. the ruthless dictator who ordered massive purges and mass deaths, would

retreat here with his family in the autumn months. >> translator: he loved billi d billiar billiards, though he was really bad at it. >> reporter: these steps are shorter than normal. it was built with stalin's afflictions in mind. >> translator: the stairways were made to accommodate stalin's gait. he suffered from joint pain. >> reporter: along with his sense of modesty. this was his swimming pool? >> translator: yes. he never went to the seashore. >> reporter: he didn't like to show his body in public. there were no carpets when stalin lived here. he wanted to hear if anyone was sneaking up on him. not very comfortable. a horse hair filled sofa was designed to stop bullets. specially designed keyhole covers stopped prying eyes and other intruders from his conference room. you couldn't see through. a wax-like figure of stalin sits on his desk. and connected him with the city. i don't know what the word for creepy is.

>> translator: it's an unusual, a surprising rendition. that's why it produces such an effect. >> reporter: it's a fascinating, if not disturbing journey into the life of a brutal and long-despised figure whose image in russia, according to opinion surveys, has actually improved since the end of the cold war, with stalin seen by more and more russians as a wise leader who brought the soviet union to might and prosperity. >> some great victories in our country are also connected to stalin, the victory in the great political war. >> reporter: at this school outside moscow, students learn all about stalin, but differ on history's judgment. >> i will never forgive him for what he has done. >> he brought russia to next level. >> reporter: in sochi, he is viewed by some as a sort of city father. >> we often call the resort, the stalin resort, because he personally initiated the development of sochi. >> reporter: but while joseph stalin once relaxed in this

idyllic setting, visitors are reminded it was also here that he may have set some of his most brutal policies into motion. parts of that home are now used as a hotel and rooms can be rented there. up next, what brought pope francis and his predecessor together today.

a surprise appearance at the vatican today by retired pope benedict. he joined pope francis

at a ceremony to anoint 19 new cardinals. it's the first time the two popes appeared at a ceremony together since pope benedict stepped down a year ago. and china's capital raising its pollution system for the first time to orange, heavy smog is blanketing beijing. a level ten times considered safe by the world health organization, officials urge people to stay inside. and while it was 60 degrees here in sochi, it was snowing in los angeles. at the zoo, it was. there's snow for tigers and bears to play in and a hill for kids to go sledding. it is all part of the zoo's annual snow day weekend. celebration. still ahead on "nightly news," the new olympic golden girl and her friend who got to realize his olympic dream, too.

finally tonight, 18-year-old colorado native mikaela shiffrin is dreaming big the day after becoming the youngest woman to ever win olympic gold in the slalom. she announced today she wants to win five gold medals at the 2018 games by sweeping all five alpine skiing events, something that's never been done. meanwhile, as our stephanie gosk reports, mikaela had a friend on hand as she celebrated her big win. >> reporter: mikaela shiffrin was the heavy favorite in slalom.

those lucky enough to be in the stands got a great show. and 19-year-old tom walsh did not want to miss it. born and raised in vail, colorado, skiing is in his blood. >> there is nothing more that makes me happy than a blue sky day, a lot of powder and the wind in my face. >> reporter: you're a mountain kid? >> i'm definitely a mountain kid. >> reporter: the mountain is where he met shiffrin, it is where they both imagined one day they would ski in the olympics, but in high school, walsh's life took an unpredictable, terrible turn. >> i was diagnosed with sarcoma in may of 2009. it is a rare bone cancer. i had had it in my pelvis and my lungs and it changed everything. >> reporter: walsh went through years of treatment fighting the life-threatening disease. mikaela shiffrin supported her childhood friend through it all, even joining walsh for one of high school's rites of package. >> we made a pact that we would go to prom together

because her school didn't have one. >> reporter: she was your prom date? >> yes. >> reporter: that is fantastic, i love it. when she made the olympic team, walsh vowed he would cheer her on. >> i want to go watch the olympics. >> reporter: but getting to sochi was difficult and expensive, so he turned to the make-a-wish foundation, the group that has granted wishes for decades for sick children, made another one come true, sending the wall walshs to russia, all expenses paid. after her gold medal winning run, the prom date turned olympian found thomas in the crowd. >> after the slalom, he gave me a hug and i thought wow, i felt the emotion there. that was really one of the best moments after the slalom. >> reporter: for these two childhood friends, both of their olympic dreams came true. stephanie gosk, nbc news, sochi. >> that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt reporting for the olympic games in sochi. we hope to see you right back

here tomorrow night. and a reminder, primetime olympic coverage begins at 8:00, 7:00 central. from all of us here at nbc news, good night.

crews are repairing the lines after a ten-car train derailed and nearly fell off an elevated track. we'll also show you when service will be back to normal. protests in venezuela getting more violent and deadly by the day. what angry students here in the bay area want the white house to do about it. prlus, a huge security problem for apple. what you need to do coming up. good evening. i'm diane dwyer. >> i'm on terry mcsweeney. b.a.r.t. said the end is near for the mess in the east bay where a train derailed last night.