traditional. power lie with the people this demonstrates that struggle is very real . struggle. week of voting gets underway in russia on amendments to the country's constitution the 1st time people can vote online as a precaution against. charges in the united states trying to hire actors to access classified information. but. national. sports loving foreign minister pays a visit to. also an exclusive interview he claims of the death of democracy in his country.

this is r.t. thanks for joining us. voting is underway in russia on amendments to the country's constitution the package includes more than $100.00 provisions some of which have been widely criticised today both online and early voting has begun all leading up to next wednesday's general vote. 7 days of voting in now underway across russia across. 7000 polling stations set up for this vote and you know vladimir putin he never misses an opportunity to remind everyone how the world is changing how quickly it's changing and how important are these for russia to stay ahead of the curve these obviously these changes what the government visions paving the path for russia to stay ahead of that curve. tell you how important how much is at stake here the fact that they're holding them now just as

russia begins to emerge from the pandemic. have been lifted across the country nevertheless there are hawt. that's where the situation is still severe which is why there are so many mechanisms and procedures now in place to guarantee that this route is primarily safe to minimize the potential transmissions and infections to the lowest possible and there's all sorts of long distance routing there is in the house moves there's also for the 1st time online voting mass online voting people can register move all apps and vote a 1000000 people have registered so far though a number of applications have been declined juta due to detailed errors for example incorrect information incorrect contact details nevertheless moved people have been able to register it successfully as i said there's

a lot of polarization many people have come out against this vote nobody will always be happy the communists for example their followers to boot but against the changes saying that they will can continue to campaign against the shane just what they entailed even during the voting. for which we submitted 108 amendments by the last ruling united russia party rejected them what's the point of changing the constitution if we keep on keeping for a resource based economy if we choose not to teach children subjects relevant to today or to support science so what's the point to prolong his term. the more radical opposition those against the government and everything anything to do with the government they say that the vote simply isn't necessary that the amendments are bad news and at the end of the day they don't even believe that the vote will

be fair something that organizers have told us simply isn't true. our main goal is the health and safety of our citizens ferreting is safe thing getting to the shops or walking in the park there is no obligation to it and no one will know which way he wrote it hence people should feel free to come in in whatever way they want if they decide to vote at all we welcome everyone all the critics the skeptics. the vote was originally supposed to happen in april 1 day in april but because of the pandemic obviously it was postponed and now it is being stretched out over a 7 day period in order to prevent lines in crowds from forming again to minimize transmission to make it safe through all sorts of restrictions in place and how many people can be in voting stations at any one time nevertheless according to polls 67 percent of russians voice their intent to go and vote in these amendments

20 percent still undecided and just 30 percent have said that they don't plan on going to vote we've also put together this video of this kid here to show you what it is that has super poorest people in russia it was january when president putin stunned russia by proposing changes to the country's foundation law the constitution within hours the entire government had resigned the current constitution dates back to $993.00 to western backed president boris yeltsin built from the day bri of the communist soviet era since constitution created what would be criticized as a hyper presidential system the president called all the shots. and it was forged in bloodshed as a hostile communist control parliament tried to impeach yeltsin he resorted to the military to keep in power. 187 people were killed that autumn. one of the most important proposals today is to end that hyper presidential system

while keeping the fundamentals of the constitution intact so what powers does the president currently have only he alone can nominate the prime minister and other cabinet members parliament just gives a formal green light to the candidates. the proposal would flip that giving parliament the final say on who serves in government and the president would not be able to reject the m.p.'s choices. powers would be redistributed between various branches of government intended to lock in more checks and balances into russia's government system another big change would limit the president's tenure to only 2 terms in total as opposed to no more than 2 terms in a row as it is now that means future leaders won't be able to serve for as long as putin has. but it's not a member which has got western media excited perceived trick to stay in power forever the existing rules say putin must stand aside in 4 years time after his 2nd consecutive term albeit his 4th mandate in total m.p.'s are pushing

a proposal to 0 out his term count a reset button for an updated constitution i propose to add to the new constitution that the current president like any other citizen would have the right to be elected to the post of head of the state that would mean putin could run again in 2024 and in 2030 if he wants to rewind back to january why putin said he wanted to change the constitution he says it's to develop a welfare state. the reason for these amendments is to ensure the further development of russia as a state governed by the rule of law to increase the efficiency of institutions in our country with that in mind the room more than one $140.00 amendments one guarantees that the minimum wage will not be lower than the cost of living another secures an annual adjustment to improve the real value of pensions and allowances that would also be tougher requirements for civil servants such as banning key officials from having foreign citizenship all foreign bank accounts would also be a ban on giving away any russian territory and priority to domestic law over

international there are some controversial proposals to marriage would be classified solely as a union between a man and a woman and god gets mentioned all the constitution will still say russia is officially a secular state it's an all or nothing vote russians won't be able to pick and choose which of the amendments they want to see it's simply a yes or no to the whole package and the changes will only be enacted if the russian people give it an unequivocal mandate. if people do not vote for the amendments they will not be added to the constitution. i'm joined on the line now by marriage s.k. is a writer and a broadcaster very good afternoon to you mary. 1st does the 993 constitution need dating changes. well i think it's a very long time in everybody's terms isn't it since 993 i mean so much as happened in especially in russia so i think there are probably good arguments for

a bending the constitution. i'm not sure whether you know some of these amendments that are proposed look like constitutional amendments some of them like assurances about upgrading pension and. social benefits and things you know i'm not sure that those would actually belong in a standard sort of constitution. what about the number of amendments it's something like $114.00 to cover a whole range of topics is it fair to bundle them all in together and force people to say yes or no to everything. well i think it's very very difficult i mean i can't imagine a similar sort of referendum almost anywhere else where. i would imagine that under other circumstances you would basically have one or 2 very basic constitutional amendments that you would vote on and you would vote on them singly so approving

the whole package is quite a different thing but then again you know it has been already approved by the parliament by the duma so. it's more like a sort of ratification isn't it than a natural referendum. what about putin himself or the possibility he will stay in power it's not certain but in theory it become a possibility and the western media are making a big thing of this same effectively it's a man or an old man refusing to let go of power or do you think of it yes and we have shades if you know other leaders elsewhere who talked about going on and on and what not wanting to relinquish the the reins of power i mean atika slightly different view of it in this because. i think there is another argument for having the sort of amendment which actually doesn't mean that president putin would go on and on in the sense that when there was

a change of power before when there was talk of a change of power in 2007 and again in 2012 in the months before that there was an awful lot of sort of speculation and jockeying for position. which i think quite a few people in russia felt was destabilizing and that if you lie. putting this amendment there with the possibility that paul tonight to continue might have the possibility of continuing after 2024. that that in a way to spodes the speculation because i remember when thought in which it was elected reelected in 2018 almost immediately he'd take it he'd taken the oath again there was speculation saying this is fortunes last term who is going to follow. and that's quite

a difficult situation to go through for the whole of 6 years so i can quite see that leaving it uncertain as to whether putin might want to stay on i mean i've got my personal that that i don't think you will i mean i think it's there as a contingency i don't think it's there as a fixed plant talk. and if we look at the way the western countries certain of that in europe america focused heavily and particular at the moment on equality whether it be gender or race or sexual preference it doesn't matter equality across the board and then you look at this suggestion here russia's going in the direction of marriage can only be between a man and a woman. critics going to say that's discrimination or not opening up russia criticizing it's going it's going backwards well i mean i was very surprised actually obviously you know western countries have other things on their mind at the moment. but given the outcry that there was before these sorts of winter

olympics about gay rights in russia. i quite surprised that that particular amendment hasn't attracted much more attention through the west and i think one possible explanation might be that it not just rush at that maybe has this on their. slitted books until very recently that was the position in northern ireland which is a part of the united kingdom that was changed only very recently and i suspect there are countries in europe and further afield where this is in trying to in the law if not in the constitution so maybe that's why it's been relatively quiet on that front but i have to say i'm surprised that murray pleasure to speak thanks for your time or to just give it a broadcaster. with coronavirus restrictions eased in

russia or arties welcomed its 1st official guest for months with the hunger in foreign minister dropping by had a chat with r.t. correspondingly betraying her about hungary's the vision to rule by decree during the pandemic but it wasn't all just tough questions for the sports loving minister . qualified. well actually it will

be really tell you. that. not only. the. national. will very well everybody's in. russia will be no this has happened here will russia be the favorite. now because the. world is really really good this point right at this point what's going on with mr or bans powers to rule by decree a state of emergency allowed us to make decrees like in every other e.u. member states every other e.u. member states what was the problem of the opposition they said and liberal mainstream in europe they said that there is no concrete date of conclusion in the law which allowed us to govern by decrees we said of course there is not a concrete date because who knows when. allow us to come back to normality when it

comes to decision making so what we have done now we seized we concluded the state of emergency less than 90 days opposition demanded 120 had the beginning now it took less than 90 days so this is number one number 2 when it comes to the special economy zones yes. made the decree but but in the meantime we submitted it to parliament so parliament can make a law on that because yes of course it entered into force quickly but parliament should approve that i think that's a very democracy way of of of managing things i stay with more news after this break.

we go to work. straight home. seemed wrong. just don't. let me. get to shape out of this day become educated and engage with equal trail. when something find themselves worlds apart we choose to look for common ground.

welcome back the wiki leaks co-founder julian assange to scotland fighting extradition to the united states is facing fresh allegations from the department of justice the dark uses trying to recruit hackers to gain access to classified information to correspondent shadi edward stashed as mine. judas onj is yet another step closer to being sent to the united states as new allegations against him have said this has been outlined in an updated indictment today originally expander has now been accused of providing a hit list of targets as he allegedly conspired with hackers all around the wells he said to try to recruit how because at a conference in europe and wanted a nation i did anything but activists online from groups intruding and not invest in pursuit of this classified information to the ricky makes website now that's all according to the us government to publish his ace indictment and that aren't the

new indictment does not add additional counts to the pry 18 count superseding indictment returned against the so on jane may 29th t. he does however broaden the scope of the conspiracy surrounding alleged computer intrusions with which a song was previously challenged according to the charging document a soldier and others at weeki leagues recruited and agreed with hackers to commit to computer intrusions to benefit wiki leaks guess ours is because wanted by the united states and is currently in custody in the united kingdom battling against this expedition to america which has a direction on the 17 currents under the espionage act one today struck down to sign and publishing classified military documents all that i did to the war in iraq and afghanistan plus one compare conspiracy to how government competed to publish these secret documents that this latest new indictment does not actually add to this very have to do this but it doesn't mean new claims against eunice are between

the 20092012 now the united states describes all of this is one of the knowledge of compromises of classified information in history and if convicted you're innocent could be sentenced up to 175 years in prison now some say his crimes of whistle blowing was in fact a national security risk but many campaign to say all of this extradition proceedings should all be dropped because there is no way. that you know well face trial in the united states and they believe he's a valiant campaign at the truth the drama department of justice a term to imprison drew in the songs for going with your source to publish classified documents that exposed years war crimes is the most severe us through that broke through them since 2016 that 1st thing didn't work let's try another you scumbags let the journalist have his liberty i wouldn't dog of the department of justice decided to shooting dice mint just days before julian's next procedural

hearing aspired to finance a smear campaign against him for serious action started back into the public eye april when he was also been holed london's story and this is by british police raid was seeking political asylum from asset to end of days which is almost 7 years he then began serving a 15 week sentence in the u.k. spell prison skipping back in 2012 of his treatment all the way as though being called into question on his represents just walking there is a case of torture and mistreatment and tourists are just noise and this is eighty's allegation is yet another blow to journalists well why is our effort to stop and speaking out the government's relentless pursuit of juden assigns poses a great threat to journalists everywhere and to the public's right to know well today superseding indictment is yet another chapter in the u.s. government's effort to persuade the public that its pursuit of julian assange is

based on something other than his publication of news worth the truthful information the indictment continues to charge him with violating the espionage act based on we can leaks publications exposing were crimes committed by the us government. but of top of all of this the u.k. . broke in and now that extradition request comes often notice was issued to the u.s. national. want to section 8 the killing 19 year olds have done here of course died after crushing northamptonshire and seclude as you will find that will is accused of dangerous driving the u.s. is there are said it's decision to refer use it to request was final even though downing street this refusal and denial of justice that's an opinion of course how by how he doesn't own mother she says she will not stop so she gets justice for her son. this

sunday's. carry on tonight. is sleep number one. try that he may and the rest of team her again. i promise you not like we will get justice. that we're going to see you make a promise to your children to break it all up from being told at the end of september that we have. and i want to send shards of anyone being held accountable for their death. to being able to get a charge of death by dangerous trial and brought to us justice who has let us line extradition requests. yet we were eating the feeling we have. actions to. where we are so you know we are. so far wrong on our side of things. it's a sign i'm joined a lot by human rights campaign

a potential for good afternoon to peter. higgs a bit confused by so the parliament of justice is i understand making allegations that julian assange tried to hire hackers but as also is almost on the now actually charging him with anything extra over that so presumably they don't have to bring any kind of. slinging more moderate his name or do something else. well in fact the department of justice has said it's really a clarification of the kinds of evidence that they intend to present when they hopefully get your real asuncion into the u.s. court so they're basically saying you know we have these range of charges and here's more evidence to substantiate them and of course it's particularly about this alleged incitement in collusion with other hackers like anonymous to happen to us military and government websites and. public and

private e-mails. why even reveal this kind of information is i mean is this the normal protocol or is it kind of a building up there some kind of momentum ahead of the trial. i think definitely the. drip drip drip feed of u.s. allegations against sanch are deliberately designed to try and protect a in the worst possible light to put pressure on the british authorities and to sway public opinion that there is a legitimate case against and of course those of us who know the facts about this case will say very clearly that journalists aren't told the truth he exposed wrongdoing it caucus in double dealing by the united states government and military and that was a great public service and he has

a publisher like the new york times or the guardian in london who didn't also publish a lot of the information that came from there with your leaks a treasure trove but unlike a sanchez the editor of the guardian or the new york times are not being hauled before the courts now do the stange and we get leaks are essentially an online publisher you know they published information that others not them or others hacked or got access to so they have the same basic status as the new york times or the guardian in london. the question is of course why is it only journalists aren't there we get leaks are being pursued and the answer is obvious because they have caused the u.s. government incredible embarrassment are there because but percheron on light on information that the american people and people around the world should have known but were denied and this is really what's all about journalistic freedom and

freedom of expression know what has been hard. by the flee there has been a mess embarrassment by the united states particularly about the exposure war crimes but no actual harm so the justification the public interest in this u.s. prosecution is without plantation. the united states was still in silence extradited to them but at the same time is refusing to extradite and so cool the wife of a cia operative cia operative to the u.k. for charges of killing harry done now if they want to solve but refuse to release a not only very hypocritical but if the u.k. allows that situation to actually you know carry be carried out where they give up one person and don't insist on getting the other is that not make the u.k. look very we can very subservient to the united states it doesn't do and that's why

many of us say that the u.k. government must not k.b. . united states government can't have it both ways it can't want to extradite someone that believes should face charges and then refuse our reciprocal extradition to someone in the u.s. who faces charges here in the u.k. the double standard is glaring but it's typical sadly of the united states it wants one rule. and one rule for everyone else and the british government really has to put its were done so i was not good in our that it's not going to go along with the u.s. actually issue a request for a stand 1st on the principle that he's a hero get exposed wrongdoing and secondly because the u.s. is not willing to play ball by actually writing and of course peter great to speak to thanks so much for your time peter tatchell human rights campaigner my guest. was a pleasure to have you guys with us i will be back with updates on our top stories

in 30 minutes see that. secret prisons are not usually what comes to mind when thinking about europe however he even the most prosperous can be deceived within this 0 song there were 2 view houses were. prison was located and only cia people had access to the story investigators sure hell they uncovered the darkest dealings of the secret services but i mean. you graded nor. thought. before. trying for justice on r.t. . i think the biggest danger that has come out education

as you just try says it has highlighted the shoot-in equality that exists and i think one of the things that education of the. changes access to the internet for educational purposes needs to be added to this. century our children writes. is your media a reflection of reality. in a world transformed. what will make you feel safe. isolation community. are you going the right way or are you being. direct. what is true.