maybe great for some winter sports but for downhill skiing you want good visibility and less snow that's already on the ground and not still falling preparing the first since such conditions was a challenge but with weather is of course a key factor heavy fog and blizzard can hold us up and cause delays but it hasn't affected overall preparations in the resort it is now ready to host the world ski cup and despite bad weather delays were minimal and as the mountain skies cleared domestic competitions began in earnest to both facilities to the test the venues here on the slopes and bridges across napoli are undergoing the sternest examination yet head of the two thousand and fourteen winter games for both the organizers and the athletes it's a perfect chance to fly in tune their routines ladies were the first to compete on the slopes for russia's downhill ski cup some compared the experience favorably with the two thousand and ten winter olympics in vancouver and live peace here can be compared to what i signed canada except there was ice in then cooler too which

made it even more difficult but the overall conditions here are good. alexander procopio came out on the top of the competition she says smaller events like this one offer an important rehearsal before the main event in sochi in two thousand and fourteen. it's a chance to train more and will have the advantage in comparison to other skiers who only come here for the olympics with thirty kilometers of new posts and world class accommodation the organizers hope to make the test competition something gettable for spectators and athletes a lawyer but above all this experience is priceless for the salty two thousand and fourteen organizing committee that will use this competition as a dry run to give olympic preparations a boost. sochi. and if you are looking for the great outdoors but a bit closer to the city than to join moscow out soon that will be next hour delving into the winter fun and getting

a bit of trouble really around the outskirts of the city certainly some spectacular camera footage are coming your way here's a preview of what's coming ahead next again next hour here on not seen. other alternative way of traveling in the woods is great fun. and anyone can. try the one thousand rubles. for twenty minute ride.

now at twenty minutes past the hour here in the russian capital four militants have been killed in a counter terror operation in russia's southern republic of dagestan but the gunmen were surrounded by special forces in a residential hideout and opened fire after refusing to surrender one police officer was killed and another injured in the shootout officials say all four were members of a terrorist group and wanted by thora these two of the bodies have now been identified. well our spotlight is not far off here in the program but for now the artsy world updates some of the global news in brief the u.n. bank ki-moon has called on argentina and the u.k. to avoid an escalation in tensions over the disputed falkland islands it comes in the run up to the thirtieth anniversary of the two countries going to war

argentina's foreign minister. has made an official complaint about the u.k.'s so-called militarization of the south atlantic saying it threatens all of south america is also accused britain of deploying nuclear weapons in the fulton islands something which london describes as a. nigerian authorities rearrested an alleged member of the radical islamist sect in the east of the country he escaped from police custody last month after being accused of masterminding the violent christmas day bombings that killed at least forty four the militants whose aim is to establish shari'a law in nigeria killed over one hundred eighty people in a series of attacks in the city of kano last month. tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators have gathered across iran to mark the anniversary of the islamic revolution it comes as pressure grows on the country sanctions being

piled on the republic by western countries over its controversial nuclear program the uprising in one hundred seventy nine toppled iran's pro western monarchy bringing hardline islamic clerics to power. and now with the race for the white house well underway and wrong poor taking second place in the latest caucus resident in new york without his office now are people in the big hall if they think he has any chance in winning. according to some polls ron paul is now back in in the u.s. republican presidential candidacy raised does he really have a chance this week let's talk about that do you think ron paul had a chance i personally don't buy into that looks weak just physically don't know just looks like an old man and said to say it maybe is value is a great and everything but. that's interesting so do you think the battle affect

the way people vote that's affecting the way i've a illuminati is going to have whatever they want so do you think they're going to choose them. prager that obama not a chance why not but he's just too much on the fringe for the rest of america but he has such a strong contingent among the you. for now well i'll tell you that any changes he'll bring forward will be on obama's good work that's what i'll tell you that he's laying down a foundation for the next president whoever he are exactly that's my belief you know and i and i mean the strain here i think he's got his chance and i think above a series of those effects of the public the novelty of his candidacy worlds within about twelve months of his arrival and ron paul certainly would be a novelty in office given over to with. world politics is based on the moment i think is interesting is a non-politician speaks very honestly but i don't agree with his policies and so if i were living here i wouldn't vote for him no he gets more independents then both

then all three candidate of the candidates so why does the media not pay attention to him well basically because he's against the establishment he's against everything isn't a stance for you against the military national complex here against the federal reserve you think he has a chance here oh he is there are ten zero why he doesn't have the finances and he doesn't have the team necessary to put together a serious campaign so you're just talking about how he's running not actually his policies or whether or not i'd be good for the country well if he doesn't have the team in the money to get his message out nobody's going to hear whether or not you think ron paul actually has a chance to become the next u.s. president the bottom line is if elected he certainly would shake things up and that seems to be something everyone is looking for. now twenty five past the hour here in moscow park or is the extreme sport that

seems to defy gravity it appeals not just to two legged adrenaline junkies but now a four legged one as well in ukraine one of man's best friend has become an internet sensation because of his passion for active antics. he has the story. the two thousand and one french movie the car she launched a new worldwide craze the park or thousands of when he was here asked worldwide took to the six treatment activity performing breathtaking stunts on the walls rooftops this skill of running and jumping from one surface to another is not so hard to master. after a few slip ups and bruises you will eventually get it right but imagine if you were doing that standing on four legs and not being as a gyle as a human being. but this ranji fellow proves nothing is impossible we need to tread a stuffer cierra terrier from western ukraine you may see mean looking but in fact

that is extremely kind hearted and he is one of only two dogs known to the world yes. there is a dog like that in hawaii it might have appeared before to it but honestly i knew nothing about it when we started training besides that dog is much later in the tricks are not a spectacular. owner you've guinea had been doing park or until a knee injury ruined his career his unfulfilled dreams suddenly reincarnated in a six month old puppy for more than four years tried has been doing some amazing stuff both in urban landscapes and historic landmarks. when he was only six months old he jumped to a cheer and from there he jumped on top of a fridge that's when we thought he had talent this reed is very energetic and sometimes they're used in dogfights before the five years we've been doing parkway or true it has never been aggressive to anyone he hasn't forty or even aborted

anyone. it looks like a case of serious animal training just like in a circus but you forget he says he has only invented a few tricks for trad believe it or not the dog makes almost all of the moves. he finds it interesting you can see in the video it looks like he's enjoying what he does i only coordinate him and very often he improvises some say that i field and park or myself and i will make the dog could do what i was unable to do you can see for yourself nobody makes you do it with. breathtaking videos have garnered millions of you tube views and earned him global recognition in their hometown you've gainey and he spat have not become offline celebrities just yet at least until a movie starring the unique dog hits the big screen in the summer but everyone in the neighborhood can rest assured fred is not a threat. reporting from chad enough to see the ukraine.

all right just ahead for you here on the program is going to be spotlight this time looking into that of russian democracy first i'll be back with a recap of the top stories to stay with us if you can.

this is live from the heart of. the headlines now. refused to step down as the capital. is exactly a year after the former president was. calling on the. general has reportedly been assassinated in damascus as. the opposition

claims of responsibility for the security. that happened in the major city of. at least twenty people were killed in. which the free syrian army. has ground to. protest against the government. many of the politicians are. hiding from the crowds outside and about to. cover this more detail as he discusses. his sport i program. what is the future of russian democracy you watching.

well with. science technology innovation all the latest developments from around russia we've got the future covered. hello again to welcome to spotlight the interview show in our team the now we're not and today we're talking about of lattimer putin's view on democracy during the last twenty years russia has been going through a democratic transition success has been made by the way wasn't easy and there were wrong turns true as the presidential election gets closer many speculate on how this process will continue if either of the candidates is elected this week the

favorite in the race prime minister putin expressed his opinion in an article seen as part of his electoral benefit so is he planning to make russia more democratic and how discuss it with the head of the general political science department at the high school of economics mr coffee and mr schuster simon schuster head of the time moscow bureau. over the last two months russia has seen the biggest really since the time of yeltsin an active electorate and they did political debate is what makes the current presidential race different from the previous two it all started with protests over the stay do my lection results last december when the ruling united russia party won which triggered ballot riggin accusations ever since the opposition has regularly how this rallies and has become exceptionally active online demanding changes that would make. the election process

more transparent last weekend however the protesters had to face the fact the government supporters are also ready to defend their point of view on the streets according to the old data he should by the police the pro-government rally even outnumbered the anti government one friday in their putin addressed both sides shortly after the meetings in another of his pre-election articles the prime minister's manifesto published in russia's corner sun daily admits the quality of the state is a lagging behind civil society which has become more mature active and responsible at the same time putin sees the current political activity in the country as an achievement of his years in power a byproduct of the economic stability he brought about. i learned simon welcome to the show thank you for being with us well first of all did this article give you an impression that putin really considers the civil

awareness in russia his own achievement or it's more important for him to make others believe that one of his main goals is delicate as asian and russian. well of course he has to make democratization part of his pre-election strategy image because he realizes now after the protests that have been going on for two months little bit more that a huge portion of the population in the electorate demand that kind of democratization they had some hope of it being achieved under an invidious presidency. his rhetoric if not in his actions gave some hope that democratization was on its way but after they made their switch and said he's coming back to the presidency there was no there was no certainty among among the liberal middle class segment of the electorate this was happening so yes britain has to offer this how genuine it is it's a big question you know you have to you have to wait for actions to back it up the

debate is this is this working well it's not democracy it's i think maybe the most important of all yeah exactly yeah but i would remind you that democracy in russia it's a long term project it's not the immediate reaction to the mass protests we are facing in the. following months russia is very young by judging by historical standards it's just twenty years of practice all this very year and now you saying so so you think that this is putting its article what he writes isn't that part of his dialogue with the protestors but rather his manifesto and part of this long process rather than the immediate reaction no no no no i would suggest it's what is because of the it's kind of reply to the pressure from the radical opposition and at the same time it's what is called vision for future

because he was put in clearly understands that it's immediate immediate experience experience must be some college and analyzed and thought for a week and. it's not my case that he started his article with some something. it's about ninety's and. the beginning of the twenty first century and this experience is very gullible it was very tragic especially if we remember the ninety's in russia but nonetheless it's steps towards the more complete more full fledged democracy and democracy i would remind in every country democracy is continuing process we might need a vision from the outside of my next question put in says the society i quote it has grown smart he praises the middle class he says we created by saying we he means himself and president medvedev but he is running for presidency and not

taking part in the debates but well as usual i mean the he didn't take it didn't take part in debates when he was running for the first or does medvedev didn't take part in the debates with with other candidates so. looking from the outside do you see changes put himself is the change i mean for from the outside and from the inside i think it looks ridiculous that he would he would propose democratization and not take part in presidential debates like candidate in this from the inside it looks ok i mean i mean i didn't if you if you looked at the slogans of the people who were ad the rallies people who commented on their i think they talked to many things they dislike about putin but everybody takes for granted well you never does that's what i mean nobody said this was ridiculous. i mean i suppose there's a part of the electorate that is used to standing sort of above the political fray and not taking part in it but i take issue with one phrase used to responding to

the radical opposition is no longer responding to the radical opposition he's responding to a huge segment of the population who has been making its demands very clear in the streets and in other ways this is by the government's own estimates thirty percent of the population that makes up the urban middle life in the u.s. but in the front of what. we see just radical opposition so it's immediate response of this pressure let's watch a lot of important things about the russian civil society. today to governance in russia lang's behind the readiness of civil society to participate in our civil society has become much more mature active and responsible we need to modernize the mechanisms democracy so the corresponds. to.

the very beginning of the article there's another quote putin says the society must be ready to use the democratic mechanisms and spend its time and effort to rule the state he's clearly appealing to the so-called. are increasing we may call them the the road to hoe nationally as maybe maybe not there are some of them are not radicals all of them are pretty relaxed i mean but. this article while the opposition whatever that it would take it as a response that's very important i mean this article that his suggestions what they want or what you want to change may be in the point of taking its opposition is united but as we know the opposition is fragmented fracture and the only point of concern is about putting foot in mass must resign this is the slogan of this opposition and there is partly to the question of why he he is abstaining

from immediate personal participation in the debates he is potentially head of state he is experience being of head of state of twice and his counterpart since just aspirants it's just hopeful president so that the. practical knowledge of how to be president so this is partly the whole can explain why putin is so reluctant to. really and personally but he trusted his representatives for instance not only and then i. had a debate with virginia and it's goes well well let's hear another quote let's hear what a lot of reporting writes about out to make trials in russia more transparent. what must be given to the possible online broadcast or proceeding. transcript. they

will instantly shoot who is working. we should rule not to pieces with the use of and with the judge's summing up is dictated by understood on the. russian system is different from many others cameras television cameras are allowed in many quarters but russia and russia many courts are they call them closed where there's no public no press and no cameras so do you think if this proposal goes i mean if we allow web cameras in the courts this will provoke judges to to to make more and board trials closed if. it's possible i mean if. controversial decisions are made under a web camera that will immediately become the subject for debate online and as

been clear for a few years in russia the blogosphere and the internet are more and more setting the agenda politically socially and in every respect so a judge would feel. some greater sense of responsibility or consequence by making decisions that are obviously corrupt political in the united states prohibited in courts if and you're for any cameras and that's why we see the sales force. drop it so i mean these these things are cosmetics that noise you know democratic. i think you know i would take issue with the very idea of placing web cameras in polling stations or in courts what is a pretty cosmetic change i mean some have problems in the courts and in the electoral system are systemic and they require you know top down reform but it depends upon the procedure on the practice practices for instance let's imagine. this is the. of the station of course yes. we're counting

the waters of bulletins and the camera is fixing and you'll being for instance in new york you can subscribe for for this and just looking closely at what's going on theory and. just realize that you know nothing about those rules and that we're talking to a political scientist here in the police officer if we're interrupting journalists sign a shift or spotlight will be back in a couple of minutes after a break so stay with the story. russia would be so much brighter if you knew about the sun from fines to crashing.

stocks on t.v. dot com. resistance is not a politics but a culture oh. this could get. on its own. cultures of resistance on our team. welcome back to spotlight i'm al green of and just a reminder that my guests in the studio today are journalist simon shuster and

political scientist leon youth political doom and we've started talking about this this proposal in the latest bulletin is art and not about placing out web cameras in courts before he before he proposed putting web cameras on polling station so you say this is cosmetic but but but well. some people consider this being a breakthrough i mean i mean i mean a live streaming from court from polish station this is this is that was unthinkable i mean even a couple of years ago you know i'm a member of presidential council on human rights and we like them so will this work yes or no in the console and my friends call. it's members of this console we can see it's a very democratic state really yeah you think this will work yes we agree on this point it's very interesting suggestion and we will do everything that. that will be

a real result that is its main point i would say or i would repeat my question to you as a member of this council if it's a closed trial if the court decides it's got a new trial will this well camera be switched off or will they cut the live treat me with streaming but it will be recorded some system someone on here talking about polling station but come on not in the course of that the courts no i don't know that we didn't discuss it you didn't just go above that but it's very may i mean a concrete step that britain can take any day in the current system of sort of top down. rule is to resolve the same situation in the magnitsky case this is this is a clear breach of judicial practice i mean the international community has all of an arms about it. russian civil society and many of the people on the street raise this as a point that that could be a concrete gesture of change all we're seeing in the article so far is a lot of promises.