google blacked out their pages in protest peter broadwell a campaigner from the u.k. based open rights group says illegal online downloading only exists because the entertainment industry has failed to keep pace with consumers. recognize that those kind of sites can often be really legitimate and important services there are rules about how they are supposed to respond quickly to reports of copyright infringement we should be judging how good or bad these things are according to how how quickly they respond to those things i think we need to be really careful for the baby out with the bathwater with this guest incentivize people for running legitimate and useful services like those two things that policymakers should be doing now and they should be taking this opportunity to engage with constructive dialogue with with the people who have spoken out about this firstly they need to look again at the evidence around the nature of the problem and they spent far too little time really analyzing what this problem looks like an understanding who's involved and who's causing real damage secondly i still think there's

a lot to do from the content industries to keep providing better services legal alternatives especially with movies for example that the legal movie offer online is still woefully short of where it should do and that only serves as an incentive or or a reason why people pirates not necessarily excuse but if those films or t.v. shows that they want to watch aren't available legally and they can get them. from from an infringing source then odds on they're going to trevor too much from the electronic frontier foundation it says the attacks and online protests turned the tables on legislation that if passed would have done little to tackle online piracy but placed excessive restrictions on average users. but the overall goal of these bills was to stop online piracy but unfortunately the provisions were written so broadly that they would probably end up censoring millions of innocent users who never even thought about copyright infringement and the worst part was it wasn't

even to stop online piracy you know the bills didn't go directly after the owners of these sites that kind of went around everything around it so it was going to be censored the domain name store they were going to be listed from search engines on the orders of the government or corporations were going to allow be allowed to cut off payment processor an advertiser from these sites just basically on an allegation in a post court order and then again there was going to be brought immunity for in that service providers to enforce these bills so they could end up over blocking sites and capturing innocent users so that there was a lot of free speech problems with these bills and the the net was cast so wide that free speech would have been infringed on a massive scale this was the biggest protest in internet history and we had we saw over one hundred fifteen thousand sites somehow alter their web pages are somewhat alter what their web pages a lot of them blacked out completely meaning that users couldn't even gets them in this sent a huge message message to congress and so within the next twenty four hours we heard that congress in both thousand we're going to show the shelf these bills

indefinitely so it was a major victory for you now online activism in internet freedom. the u.k.'s media regulator has pulled the plug on iranian english speaking news channel press t.v. the channel has called the move a clear example of censorship but britain's independent broadcasting watchdog says the channel had breached a string of regulations the channel is also being accused of not paying a one hundred thousand pounds fine for showing an interview of an imprisoned journalist phil research based media analyst and author believes the station fell victim to geopolitics. if this had been separated from geopolitics with this would not have happened and some other kind of sanction would have been would have been made and the deal would have been struck so i think the press t.v. has been viewed through geo political terms press t.v. failed to comply with one or two matters i mean they said they didn't pay the fine

and they refused to accept that overall control should lie in london whereas in fact it is an arm of iranian state t.v. so there were issues there i was sitting on a technical level you know this process has been unfolding for a while i mean there's been a they've been at loggerheads for a while of course it was so many things we know by the way from wiki leaks we know very well that the british government at the very highest level was discussing with the american ambassador how to limit press t.v.'s output in britain so i think the press t.v. has been viewed through geo political terms so that is the breakdown of relations between britain and iran so now what we've got is we've got a real limiting of dialogue in the me in the british media and i think that's a tragedy and certainly a tragedy at a time when british relations are at their lowest ebb for a long long period. and you are watching r t you live from moscow and still to come

for this hour. a multibillion pound battle between a russian a tycoon a woman album overture and a fugitive mogul borders but his last day in a london court finally reaches its conclusion. and with less than fifty days ago till the presidential vote you take a look at the pre-election atmosphere here in russia. now to developments in a syria where the opposition says at least ten people have been killed in clashes as thousands of anti-government protesters poured onto the streets of the capital damascus the demonstrators demanded the release of prisoners held since the start of the unrest ten months ago this is despite president assad's general amnesty earlier this week that saw almost two hundred detainees released meanwhile the u.s. says it is considering shutting down its embassy in the country due to acute school security concerns parties maria financial has more. i people

taking to the streets may look like a real force of power and indeed the one that i would in syria protest has apparently failed to prove that months of bloodshed with no sign is going to stop anytime soon. how it hard jeff from the syrian national council the country's main official opposition body says making the people's voice louder and bring an end to the violence is what the s. and c. was created for our main goal is to help the syrian people there present them and their international community in order to reach this syrian people freedom although it's been run by paris based exile about how the asson see has been recognized as the country's lead determined government by the new libyan authorities and supported by some and nato countries. which has made some doubt the council's innocent intentions with regards to libya the promise that nato made to

the national transitional council perspective leaders was that they be given a major seat at the table in a new libya so there is power broking going on behind the scenes and i absolutely wager that the same thing is happening with syria they've either been bought off financially or they've been promised a major role in a new syrian regime the national call was in there are clear is national transitional council and the syrian national council well it's not just their names they have in common supported and sponsored from abroad i think he likes opposition forces and their major goal is to overthrow the regime but there is a difference to the absences huts courters are not in damascus but here in istanbul we are not talking about democratic regime if i go to syria now we have. you know we have to be executed there hallett says he spent fifteen years in jail in the one

nine hundred seventy s. and eighty's just because his father supported the opposition he claims nothing has changed since then and the oppression has to stop the town is another matter. his dictatorial regime cannot be know of without any pressure claiming they're only going to rely on political and diplomatic pressure the asson see to is now copywrite in with the free syrian army fighters who have defected from assad's military in was a clear shift from the essences initial entirely known armed peaceful stance to the cows who also sees humanitarian corridors and buffer zones as options to protect civilians in syria even though these might mean foreign troops arriving this is made to istanbul paris operation where this year that counts. do activism. need to ensure that because they don't want they want to destabilize

syria because they want syria to be part of it or at least lead the opposition claims is just a matter of time before the joint after is sooner or later president assad out his attorneys to stay but the question remains exactly how long should these people have to wait for the bloodshed to stop and how many of them will actually see the end of it. turkey. meanwhile the head of the syrian national council has arrived in cairo to join arab league officials ahead of the group's meeting on sunday he wants the observer mission in syria handed over to the u.n. security council urged by the opposition to establish a buffer and a no fly zone in the country and some experts believe there are arab league members pushing for more military involvement as well we are expecting now that the arab league will request extend this which the syrian government has already said it

would well come to the point of view of like qatar and others who have really been pushing for regime change in syria that the arab league mission here hasn't been exactly as they would have liked it so we have seen in the last week that the prince of qatar openly called for arab treat occupy syria as a common invade and occupy syria so i really. believe that it shows that the arab league has seen a little bit more of an object over some arab countries aren't too happy with it so we can expect. a purse for their objectives are very easy to change in other ways. the u.k.'s most expensive private court battle between russian and tycoons roman. has ended the verdict on the six billion dollar cases expected at the end of march or in early april the exiled billionaire is suing chelsea football club owner for

breach of contract or bennett reports it's been dubbed the trial of the century for two reasons really firstly because of the sheer money involved a six and a half billion dollars at stake here making it the most expensive civil lawsuit in the u.k. legal history and more importantly perhaps is the subject matter it's really laid bare all those dealings of ninety's russia in the wild east reaffirming all those stereotypes there are that i don't think anyone actually thought because could possibly be true but it turns out they are and what makes it even more unbelievable is that they've come from two of the main players in those turbulent times remand every moment. to former friends now arch enemies and juicy details will some of the really big believe the recent claims we've heard are that he actually turned up to meetings wearing nothing but a dressing gown that he frittered away millions in the flash of a private jet that even signed off threatening text messages to his rivals with the words i'm watching you i'm dr evil promote it well he's been accused of every dirty

tax dodging trick there is in the book and we also know that he was involved in murderous alamy wars in the ninety's where you now know for sure through his own admission that one person was killed every three days in that kind of grab for wealth but what this really boils down to is the relationship between the two main there is also he claims that they will business partners and that he was blackmailed by a remote village forced to sell his stakes. in the oil company sitting there for a fraction of the true worth of a movie he dismisses that payment purely protection money paid to his political godfather of the banks for his mentor ship. a severance package now and it's up to the judge to decide whether if anything all of this is true regardless of which. i think it's safe to say the real winner here is the british court system because believe me raking in as a result of this trial eighteen dollars

a seconds let's now look at some other stories making headlines around the world for you this hour. multiple explosions have hit the northern nigeria city of kano killing at least seven people the coordinated attack targeted police stations and the regional police headquarters of boko haram the radical islamist sect has claimed responsibility for these and other recent attacks in qana state authorities have imposed a curfew and president goodluck jonathan has promised to crush the group. in morocco five men set themselves up blazing during mass protests in the capital rabat hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the country's high unemployment rate the action echoes of last year's events in tunisia when a young man set himself on fire and began the arab spring that toppled the government there morocco has seen a wave of protests since february of last year. russia's presidential elections are just around the corner and both authorities and the opposition admit the need for

dialogue and after a wide claims that last month's parliamentary ballot was rigged prominent public figures have founded the voters a week in an effort to ensure a transparent vote in march or cheese eating english got takes a look at the pre-election atmosphere in russia with just two hundred fifty days before the march presidential election in major continue still simmering in the candidate's headquarters mr putin decided to release his powers of persuasion on the electorate a new public speaker routines he's decided to be more scholarly speaking of the pen for the first in a series of articles outlining his vision for the future of russia. built. the. gravitation away from dependence well i standing welcoming political dialogue in the strengthening of civil society in russia putin however said people should concentrate on just what candidates are promising to do rather

than the theater of personalities we need extended dialogue about priorities about long term choices national perspective and development this article is an invitation to such dialogue it's important to say that prime minister has never denied the possibility of establishing such a day and then just become prime to his readiness and this is what is making people take the initiative into their own hands this week some of the most prominent participants on december's post-election protest pulled together to form the league of constituents so they all know where should the new public mood has blossomed people are showing a desire to make an educated vote to know where their votes are going on the understanding that the country needs competitive politics those behind in their group are quick to point out they're not going to turn into a political party but do call to become a major support group for anyone wanting to make a difference with their vote i didn't have the political activists are nothing without this type of newly found public support there to help boost them are the

key to public support is the media and that's where conclusion found himself too in the crowd while criticizing one of russia's most popular radio stations and moscow for being too pro western in its coverage the prime minister told its editor in chief not to take offense at those words since you don't get mad when you cover me with liquid crap from dawn till dusk going to happen the government the opposition and the electorate all seem to realize they have to think fast and act quickly in order to get the ball rolling with the presidential elections just around the corner so if they're hunched down with something that for years the political life in russia and roaring in wealth go go r.t. . next the moscow team heads to florence to look for traces of russian culture in the heart of italy.

hello and welcome to the program today the moscow team are in italy as we continue our exploration of russian culture abroad bit music from. by condone ski racing creativity has been studied and celebrated for centuries around the world so job the mater values as we take a look at russian influence and connections one of the most beautiful historic and

romantic cities in the world florence. christians have been fascinated with italian culture for centuries florence is often compared to st petersburg. with its architecture and classical entertainment see consisting of music and literature it's easy to draw comparisons to the cultural grand jury of russia's former capital . moves around the major cities in italy today and you definitely hear the chit chat excited recent tourists they devour the social scene here and they're exploring what it has to offer now more than ever before it was that i feel ashame in florence is that my children in russia and israel. studying the culture of the renascence and the principles of humanism in this city is the essence of such cultures. you just are stuck with it to feel comfortable here it really doesn't even seem like a foreign country and italians are very frowned like all in all my life was to an

interest it's all an art and russian art nothing else because it's the most may be fancy is the most difficult difficult technique difficult colors. everything else there will dozens of connections between italy and russia dissociation within the field of art goes back centuries. we arrived at the russian art academy located in a grand building in the sense of the city it brings together all levels of all ages and nationalities you can almost feel the creativity as you walk in here. many students have taken sabbaticals to come to florence and learn more about art the school is angled towards classical russian teaching methods and takes individuals back to basics studying the works of old masters. nice work.

classes let's take it as part of a full time course we can't or evening classes and a whole range of subjects to study from canvas painting too much drawing but why come to a russian arts school in florence. because we're kind of training to be for it where you can get a did you ever see the like other. art schools around here it's just very focus of spirit affected actually i never planned to come to parents to painting i can't do sculpture but i was convinced by the russian method and all the way that they they teach me my dream and improve the scene as i came here most of the buildings are still authentic show it does give the sort of the ideal background for all to make sure. many lines models are using the conses tools in english russian and italian shouldn't take visual photographs with the aim of recreating the image in sketch form.

based on consequence additions and values in the modern art world because here is learning about sight size technique. of the training have decided on the basics of technique the use of color and the study of i'm not from a out of portraits most of its uses here offer russia and they bring with them a whole range of classical knowledge and experience having trained at various prestigious universities in moscow and st petersburg are being sent to and say help each student find that expression whatever stand it about. the school in france is aware that many other colleges around the world are opening up to contemporary styles and radical new training methods and on that note to discuss the economy. objectives let's meet this week's guest. as you let me to meet you so tell me about

the academy here in florence of a here during two years which is to you as a goal of the start of the film school. into a funeral of all the data during ten years doing different kind of water crops and . care demand i want to bring a russian academic classic school to share at the european stay with us and of course bring spiritual waters and art which is very important you mention european students here you have russian or interest or italians or it's a little international of the students which is a half from belgium from italy from you glance from america around the wall can anybody come here or they have to be you know a decent artist are not there but yeah then i think you can be here which is normally students just sending their application form together with the board but after one the year or so of professor choosing if that student will continue

a filthy year or second there which is a bit don't have an answer or an exam but they would have exam after one year were serious and the tutors are mostly russian teachers that most are russian which is that it's teachers a who are already graduated in russia and who is a professional artist but himself the most time of. war in the russia russian government academy well many of the art schools around the world they focus now on contemporary arts maybe here the training is more strict with its russian roots maybe dependence and because our opinion the world where giving plastic foundation school base without foundation a classic school base you can develop your own style a diverse a school the nonprofessional way. which is it's me in our opinion that we're bringing school in the people and. and the business school will develop there. is

great to meet you and good luck with it thank you their minds but. so what other cultural links is florence have with russia one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the twentieth century person director undertow kosky lived in france in the one nine hundred eighty s. in the capital of tuscany to work on his two last films and sacrifice he was even pronounced as an honest citizen of florence by its authorities took up ski left italy and nine hundred eighty six and moved to paris where he died the same year now a memorial plate to be seen on the house and via some nicolo but the filmmaker lived and worked. in the beautiful surroundings of florence nestled in the tuscan countryside as a hotel bearing a russian name the damage of country result is a modern four star hotel then after the famous for some wealthy and influential demetre family from the eighteenth century the democrats had

a villa in this part of italy and they definitely chose the location wisely as the views here a spectacular and relaxing. about twenty minutes drive from the center of florence the hotel offers one hundred rooms and suites with all modern comforts i'm still ities. how the hotel is there for business and nations changes that then with our family used to enjoy the surroundings many centuries ago and now our guest can enjoy the same nature and the more festive it is to relax. florence is a sensational city the center is an open air museum itself every corner is a photo opportunity no wonder many famous russian figures came to live here. to see s.q. for example chose florence a. only because of its inspiring the true so many other foreigners but many because

of the library they contain russian periodicals he wrote the idiot here in january one thousand nine hundred eighty nine after seventeen months of work. another russian legend spent a considerable length of time in italy was the composer tchaikovsky he came to florence in the year eight hundred seventy eight to write quietly in a villa overlooking the city situated on the beautiful st pierre de sunday another twenty minutes outside the city it has a completely different feel to the center of florence it was stated that tchaikovsky called florence the city of dreams for him it was one of the best locations in the world as he enjoyed the architecture landscapes and soul of the area he said it was one of the most inspirational places to live and to work he wrote the famous russian opera the queen of spades here in italy in eighty ninety and back in russia to celebrate his beloved city he wrote the piece souvenir to florence.

from the art world in florence or oligarchs and their glamour shots on the island of capri the prison of russian influence and connections in italy and vice versa isn't it too apparent and not just here but it is closer to many european cities than you think is the love affair with all things european shows no signs of slowing down. the punch of the here bridge is a beautiful mediæval landmark not to be missed as a focal point of the city it represents medieval florence in all its glory and whether you are chinese english american russian the historic landmarks and fantastic cultural world of florence with a long standing russian italian connections or some. i think everyone should see.

what an amazing city one unfortunately that's the time we have left on this week's program i'll see you again the same time next week until then for me and the rest of the team by. broadcasting live direct from the heart of moscow this is our team under. a wave of online protests from blacked out google and wikipedia pages to a crippling attack on government websites force us lawmakers to rethink tough new anti-piracy legislation. the u.k. revoked iran's press t.v. broadcasting a license for breaching

a string of regulations and move which the channel calls a clear ship. and in syria thousands of people have taken to the streets of damascus to demand president assad to release political prisoners held since the start of the uprising despite a general amnesty earlier this week that song nearly two hundred. coming up party talks to ballet star david hallberg about what it's like being the first foreign premier for the famous bolshoi theater spotlight is up next. i'm going. to a. limited .