is this the end of democratic hopes in belarus? today, a court and belarus sentenced opposition figure siarhei tsikhanouski to 18 years in prison for organizing antigovernment protests. he was arrested last year as he campaigned against belarus's's authoritarian leader, alexander lubin jacob. his wife, who took his place as opposition leader, has called the severe sentence the revenge of a dictator. >> even before the verdict against her public -- her husband was announced. >> i have an idea how many years he will get. it will be difficult psychologically to accept. on the other hand, be it one year, be it 20 or 100 years, all this is not normal. it is illegal and you can't accept it. reporter: in the end, siarhei tsikhanouski was served an 18 year prison sentence. he refused to turn his face to the state media in court. five other codefendants were sentenced with him. tsikhanouski is charged with inciting mass unrest and hatred in society. but how did he go from blogger to enemy of the state? conflict with authorities fueled his p

one caveat based in serving the belarus confident u.s. -- belarus-u.s. relations. there were successful attempts of the belarusian resume -- regime to persuade that the sanctions should be postponed temporarily and exploit loopholes and vulnerabilities and bring the sanctions and make them eventually insignificant. i think i will stop here. also with the understanding that the issue is so complex that it is hard to say there is one easy fix and if we introduce this particular strategy it would work today and mitigate the risks. michael: great, thank you so much for that really rich and textured context. it envelopes the entire region just how broad this crisis really is and that it is well beyond just ukraine. i want to move on to some us chins, but first i would like to recognize marc veasey representative -- recognize representative marc veasey , who has joined us. want to give chairman cohen the opportunity to ask some questions and then we can go to representative veasey. >> unless they are nostradamus i don't think they can answer my questions. i yield to marc

and belarus being an acceptable option, even though belarus won't turn away from russia, won't build a fence with russia overnight because the public opinion polls are not so much anti-russian and there are economic interests that are not necessarily needed to be kept, but at the same time in the eyes of the kremlin, in this ideology in their worldview, this is an acceptable victory of democratic government and they would see this as an immediate threat and something very much prone to the nato western influence, so to say. michael: care to offer some thoughts on this? robert: sure. russian officials have made a number of demands and one of the main ones is a broader security architecture question. russia, nato, that is one area where we should engage russians and look for substantive dialogue and absolutely, most of the treaties that we had for security cooperation in europe have elapsed. there is probably a good opportunity to look at where we can find agreements around these kinds of security measures that we can make around contingencies in an area that's useful but the issues ar

belarus denies this and says the e.u. is to blame for the humanitarian crisis.eporter: belarusian authorities say almost 600 people remain at this warehouse on the belarus side of the border. despite the cold weather and the terrible conditions, they swear they can't go home, and they have to move forward to have a future. >> my plan is to stay, because i can't go back to the forest or back to syria. i don't have anything. no house. food. work. i don't have anything. >> we came here to europe. we want to go to germany, that is where we want to go. reporter: that that path is blocked, and many migrants say, so, too, is the way back to minsk. the u.n. human rights office accuses both poland and lovers of pushing migrants back-and-forth across the border. it refers to statements made by migrants interviewed a u.n. in early december, describing human rights abuses on both sides of the frontier. >> the majority said that while belarus, they had been beaten or threatened by security forces, and also alleged that the security forces force them to cross the border. our

of belarus.s take a harder line than a lot— that the greens take a harder line than a lot of german parties or politician — than a lot of german parties or politician on foreign affairs and things— politician on foreign affairs and things like china and russia. time will tell. _ things like china and russia. time will tell. merkelwas things like china and russia. time will tell. merkel was really interesting in the way she reproached russia. she took over 'ust reproached russia. she took over just after— reproached russia. she took over just after barcola, when germany had sided with _ just after barcola, when germany had sided with france and russia opposing the iraq war. she spoke russian. — opposing the iraq war. she spoke russian. she came from soviet allied background, and was sceptical about the country— background, and was sceptical about the country and i think she's moved back into _ the country and i think she's moved back into the atlantic alliance at the same — back into the atlantic

and yet, in the middle, at the height at the moment of poland's migrant crisis on the border of belarus to war with brussels again over the rule of law issue. you know, this argument that brussels says that you don't have an independentjudiciary, and so on. isn't it time to put that aside and to concentrate on working together with your ally? i couldn't agree more with you. absolutely, it's time to put it away. it needs two to tango, as they say, so we have to negotiate this with brussels. sorry, prime minister. it was your constitutional court that, in the middle of this big wave of a crisis on your border, who was saying again that eu law is not compatible with the polish constitution. not the eu law. and, by the way, it was also not the first constitutional court which took its position, made its decision on the relationship between european law and domestic law, national law. many other courts, like bundesverfassungsgericht, the german constitutional court, or the french constitutional court, or the spanish. they all took very similar decisions. but there was no talk of frexit, fran

of belarus. of the territorial integrity of the ukraine. so, that is interesting, and the greens take a harder line than a lot of german parties or politicians on foreign affairs and things like china and russia. time will tell. merkel was really interesting in the way she reproached russia. she took overjust after the iraq debacle, when germany had sided with france and russia opposing the iraq war. she spoke russian. she came from an east german sort of soviet allied background, and was sceptical about the country and i think she's ploughed a very interesting furrow in that she has moved back into the atlantic alliance at the same time she opposed the extension of nato to the ukraine. she flew to — if you remember, to try and settle these situations in donbass in 2015, took a lead on that — but equally, she was presented with nord stream. it's interesting that she was presented it by her predecessor who came from the new chancellor's party and is now the guy behind — took putin's money to push

around $7000.00 more said to remain in belarus itself . and while the commission describes the situation as improving, it still defines the idea behind these new measures to protect our borders and to protect people we are giving flexibility and support to member states to manage this emergency situation without compromising on human rights. this should allow the member states in question to fully uphold the right to asylum and align legislation with you. a quays, quit even you diplomats, and nor makers of finding this pretty hard to swallow. they've described the move as lowering you standards and even violating you law, leaving many to question how the you can hold itself up as a protector on human rights on the one hand and implement these measures on the other charlotte, even sky r t. paris. the proposal suggests that migrants wait in special camps on you territory while their applications are processed. however, the head of ox firms, you office, believes the conditions in those kinds of facilities would undermine basic law. the commis

the you is accused belarus of frying migrants to minsk and dumping them with the buddha. the e u says minsky is attempting to destabilize the union by flooding. it with migrants in reaction to sanctions. it's placed on bell roost. minsk though, rejects these allegations. there are currently thought to be around $8000.00 migrants being held in centers in eastern europe in countries after they crossed over the border from belarus around $7000.00 more said to remain in belarus itself and what the commission describes the situation as improving. it still defines the idea behind these new measures to protect our borders and to protect people. we are giving flexibility and support to member states to manage this emergency situation without compromising on human rights. this should allow the member states in question to fully uphold the right to asylum and align legislation with the you. a quays, quit even you diplomats and nor make is a finding this pretty hard to swallow. they've described the move as lowering you standards and even violating you law, leaving many to question

. >> still ahead, mass raids in belarus.ass group -- rights groups accuse the government of cracking down on dissent. security or invasion of privacy? why some former israeli soldiers say they were ordered to photograph palestinians. ♪ >> look forward to brighter skies. the weather, sponsored by qatar airways. ? thank you for joining. your world weather report begins on the subcontinent. in india, both coasts will be dealing with a lot of rain. this disturbance in the arabian sea throwing rain. could see about 100 to 200 millimeters of rain in the days to come. this cooking up in the bay of angola likely to become a cyclonic storm. flooding will be a concern. we have seen flooding. about 900 homes destroyed. a deadly landslide in west java. we have seen a lot of rain for central areas of vietnam. almost a meter of rain has destroyed 25 homes. high-pressure is carving out sunny skies across central and eastern areas of china to not much to report here. the rain has made a clean sweep across areas of japan. some snow for the w

there are still roughly 2000 of them stranded in belarus, a temporary shelters. now brussels wants to accept the asylum processing time by months and keep the migrants and special comes while that happens. right groups of war and the plums, that's a dangerous precedent. if the you can allow minority of member states to throw out the rule book due to the presence of a few 1000 people at its border, it throws out any authority it has on human rights in the rule of law, stopping detaining and criminalize in people trying to find safety in europe, brakes international and european asylum law supporting the detention of migrants, f e u borders puts politics over people's lives. you is trying to get tough on migration, particularly on its eastern borders. so in a bit to tackle the issue that it's granted 3 countries, controversial emergency asylum measures that will give poland lithuania and lat, via the power to hold people in special asylum processing centers up to 16 weeks. that is a massive increase on the current timeframe that they do that for weeks. the moves ha

and united nations has again called on both belarus and poland to address what it calls the appalling situation of migrants on their joint border. hundreds of people mainly from iraq and syria, remained stranded there. poland and the a you accused belarus in later, alexander lucas shanker. of encourage an encouraging them to travel to belarus, to try and gain entry into the european union. belarus denies this and says the e you is to blame for the humanitarian crisis. villa will soon authority say almost 600 people remain at this warehouse on the better side of the border. despite the cold weather and the terrible conditions, they swear they can't go home and they have to move forward to have a future work with her or not. and her go, we came here too close to europe. we want to go to german. does what we need to will, but that path is blocked, and many migrant say, so to is the way back to minsk, the united nations human rights office accuses both poland and fellers of pushing migrants back and forth across the border. it refers to statements made by migrants interviewed by a u. n. t

so i'm sick is may i have to wait months at the e u. belarus border to get processed. if a new plan from brussels gets to go ahead, writes crew box fam, told us the move, throws away the rulebook. we could have managed this easily, but apparently the commission is not very interested in doing that. in the news, the cia is embroiled and a child sex abuse scandal that involves children as young as 2 years old with all but one alleged defender going unpunished. according to declassified documents and as the only chrome variant groups, 38 different countries of the world health organization tells us more time is needed to understand the true nature of the threat the virus poses. we do not have report merman that is causing more severe disease for that it is morally felt. this is not something that we should speculate are. we really need a bit more time ah, by that welcome to sunday brunch of a different kind. you're watching the weekly hear announcing. now lack of diplomacy is what russia's foreign ministers, the keys nato of the also exchange tough words with his u. s. co

nevertheless, belarus is managing to cause alarm across the west.nd spreading disinformation is extremely easy because, again, our citizens are not aware of the negative role they are playing in spreading falsehoods, but also the positive role they could play to keep the country safe. and then, if we think of other forms of attack, i think the incentive for now, especially following what -- following belarus' relative success in keeping the world on pins and needles, is that other countries with authoritarian rulers, they may experiment, we are going to cook up a gray zone soup. what's the harm? it didn't cost very much. mr. ferrari: i think america has been spoiled for almost 250 years, since its founding, right? we have two oceans on the east and west and friendly nations to the north and south. until the 1960's there was no real threat that could attack the homeland. then in the 1950's forward it was the nuclear weapons of the soviet union, and more recently china. those were the threats. now any country, any person, any 12th grader sitting in a

people in belarus continue their fight underground. violence and to work every day to win small victories every day. she also paid tribute to her husbands strength — and it seems her husband hasn't given up. here's sergei tikhanovsky entering court again. notice the folder of documents he's carrying behind his back, while his hands are cuffed. eagle eyed observers have noted that the colour scheme for his documents matches that of the belarus's red and white flag — a pre independence nationalist symbol that was been adopted as a symbol of belarusian democracy at last yea r�*s protests. it's of course worth mentioning that mr tikhanovsky was not alone in the dock today. alina isachenka's bbc russian has been looking at the verdicts against of his fellow defendants. in this so—called case, there were six participants in total. most of them have received a jail sentence between 14—16 years, sergei tikhanovsky's jail sentence is in fact the biggest. and as his wife said earlier this morning, she's written, she made a video statement on her

russia and belarus have announced plans to hold joint military drills in february or march.lanned drills which will take place in belarus come amid rising east-west tensions over ukraine. russia has demanded that nato does not admit ukraine, which borders russia and belarus. the u.s. says russia may be preparing an invasion of ukraine and has set it will help to strengthen its borders. moscow denies this. a week of events taking place in south africa to mark the life of the anti-apartheid leader desmond tutu who died on sunday at the age of 90. in that attempt to prevent the spread of covid-19, the church has encouraged multiple services to avoid large crowds gathering. the state funeral will take place on saturday. here is our south africa correspondent. reporter: a week of commemorative events in honor of desmond tutu is all over south africa and not just here in cape town. mourners gathered for midday prayers outside his home to pa their respects to the man who was chosen by nelson mandela to head to head south africa's tumultuous reconciliation process. many people have

met in belarus and signed a document acknowledging that the ussr, the union of soevt social republics was coming to an end. the baltic states had been first to bale out of the soviet union but by the end of 1991, 30 years ago, all the constituent parts of the ussr had been fighting for or declaring their status as independent nations, and it was a landmark moment 30 years ago this week when russia, itself, acknowledged the game was up. the leader of the ussr mikhail gorbachev realized basically he would have to agree. and before the end of that month, on christmas night, kn december 25th, 1991, mikhail gorbachev stepped down as head of the soviet union. the hammer and sickle flag of the ussr was brought down at the kremlin. the three-color flag of the russian federation was raised in its place. and on christmas 30 years ago, christmas 1991, boris yeltsin became president of the russian federation. he served as president for eight years almost exactly from christmas 1991 until new year's eve, 1999.re he served as president until dee y2k, december 31st, 1999. that night yeltsin was gone

russia has demanded that nato do not admit ukraine, which borders both russia and belarus.eholds will be worse off next year because of higher energy bills, stagnant wages and tax increases, according to a think tank. the resolution foundation, which focuses on people on lower incomes, claims millions of families are facing a �*cost of living catastrophe'. the government says it has put £4.2 billion in place to support families. our economics correspondent andy verity has more. at the moment the dominant economic factor�*s omicron, of course, and that may be causing right now a bit of an economic contraction. but it's thought that that will be relatively short lived and what the resolution foundation is saying, they're a think tank that concentrates on living standards, is that in april, we are going to have a really nasty squeeze suddenly come upon us in the shape of, as you mentioned, higher tax rises, or higher tax bills, rather, and also higher energy bills. now, they calculate that for the average house, the rise in energy bills will be about £600 a year when the energ

the leaders of russia, and belarus, met in belarus, and they signed a document acknowledging that the ussr. the union of socialist republic was coming to an end. the baltic states had been first to bail out of the soviet union, but by the end of 1991, 30 years ago, all the constituents parts of the ussr had been fighting for, or just declaring their status as independent nations, and it was a landmark moment. 30 years ago, this week. when russia itself, acknowledge that the game was up. the leader of the ussr, mikhail gorbachev, realized that he would have to agree. and before the end of that month, on christmas night, december 25th, 1991. mikhail gorbachev, step down as head of the soviet union. the hammer and sickle flag of the ussr was brought down at the kremlin. the three color flag of the russian federation was rose in its place. and on christmas, 30 years ago, christmas 1991, boris yeltsin, became president of the russian federation. he served as president for eight years, almost exactly from christmas 1991, until new year's eve, 1999. he served as president until y2k. december

belarus's opposition leader says she will keep fighting for democracy as her husband gets 18 years ofail for protests. ♪ the world health organization says the covid-19 omicron variant is spreading faster than any spring -- strain for it. they are criticizing wealthy nations for offering vaccine boosters while millions around the world are yet to have their first dose. there will be no into the pandemic if this continues. in the united kingdom, infections are doubling every two days. paul brennan reports from london. reporter: in europe, the jobs are going into people's arms as fast as they can be unpacked. more than half a million booster shots were administered in the u.k. in just one day, short of the one million per day the government is aiming for with the race to reinforce immunity gathering pace. it seeks ordinary infectiousness of the omicron variant which is really worrying global scientists and health experts. >> we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again ove

u. belarus. order to get processed. if a new plan from brussels gets the go ahead, rights group say the move throws away the rule book. missing unions around the globe call for coven vaccine, peyton's to be lifted. flaming production restrictions for deaths in the developing world. as the army constrain will be followed the others, if we cannot act. and if all countries in it at here to single vaccinations tracking of nearly 3 quarters of a 1000000 potential cancer cases in england have been mis. since the pandemic began according to a damning government watchdog report ah, and i just turned 1 in the morning heading into the weekend here on our t. i'm calling bray with a world news this. our 1st to violating aside m writes campaign is, are angry at an a huge solution for asylum seekers attempting to get in to europe through the bell a russian border. the bristol, thousands stranded in bella, roosted a temporary shelter set up by the authorities there. well, now brussels wants to extend the asylum processing time by mont

ah. parties top stories, asylum seekers may have to wait months at the age of belarus, florida to get processed. if a new plan from brussels gets the go ahead, white group say the move throws away, the rulebook cia is embroiled in a child sex abuse scandal that involves children as young as 2 years old, with over one alleged offender going unpunished. according to the declassified documents, trans, nursing unions around the globe call for cove at vaccine peyton's to be lifted, blaming production restrictions for deaths in the developing world. yet the army constrain will be followed the others if we cannot act and it all countries in it at here to think of vaccination strategy. ah good, happy with. it's just a midnight here in moscow now. saturday, the 4th of december, i'm calling break with the world news this our 1st violating asylum rights campaign . as an angry at an e u solution for asylum seekers who are attempting to get into europe through the bell russian border. there were still 1000 stranded and bella roost at a temporary shelter set up by the authorities there. well, now b

neighboring states also had on the program this our asylum seekers may have to wait months of the e belarus border to get processed. if a new plum from brussels gets that go ahead, humanitarian organization, oxfam told us the move, throws away the rule book. we could have managed this easily, but apparently the commission is not very interested in doing that. and does the all. busy me chrome cove, it very and grips 38 countries. the world health organization tells our tea more time is needed to understand how potent it may be. we do not have my board at this moment that is causing more severe disease or that it is more he felt this is not something that he should speculate off. we really need a bit more time. ah, oh, bringing you the top stories from the past 7 days and right up to the moment developments as well. this is the weekly on rti hello and welcome a lack of diplomacy that's willing to russia's foreign minister accused nato of on thursday. sir, gallup ralph also exchanged tough words with his u. s. counterpart during the meeting of the organization for security and cooperation in e

russia has demanded that nato do not admit ukraine — which borders both russia and belarus.ring an invasion of ukraine and has announced it will help to strengthen its borders. moscow denies this. and a court in russia has ordered the shutdown of the memorial human rights centre, which is part of the broader memorial rights group that russia's supreme court also shut down this week. the european court of human rights has urged russia to suspend the closure while it examines the case. russian state prosecutors have accused memorial international of breaking a law requiring groups to register as foreign agents. people have since been gathering in protest outside the court, shouting "shame!" this year has seen unprecented crackdowns on dissent in russia. founded in 1989, memorial is russia's most prominent rights organisation and became a symbol of the country opening up to the world. it has chronicled purges under the soviet leaderjosef stalin and now campaigns for the rights of political prisoners and other marginalised groups. memorial says the charges against it are politic

her husband in jail, she fled belarus. where did she go for safety for herself and her children? h lithuania. not surprise willlikelyy. she found a welcoming nation next door. belarus and russia have retaliated against lithuania with cruel and manufactured migrant flows and other intimidation, but once again lithuania will not be bullied. secretary of state blinken understands the importance of this lithuanian nation and continues to make sure they know they have friends in the united states. he recently hosted lithuanian foreign minister and grandson of burgess at the state department. blinken said at the state department that the foreign minister, quote, has been such a strong voice for democracy and human rights not just in lithuania but around the world. i couldn't agree more. i couldn't be more proud. so let's use this 30th anniversary of lithuanian independence to stand firm with our brave ally and recommit our continued support for our baltic allies for economic and security cooperation. doing so will help ensure th

there's been this migrant push in belarus. poland would like to be part of nato but they're on their own except for the help that we're giving them lethal aid under the trump administration and less than that under the obama administration before that. they're in a tough spot. general, thank you very much. we'll be watching to see what comes out of this conversation. very important tomorrow. thank you, sir. also breaking told, the white house provokes china. confirming a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 olympics citing genocide and human rights abuses. where is this going? >> i don't think that we felt it was the right step to penalize athletes who have been training, preparing for this moment and we felt we could send a clear message by not sending an official u.s. delegation. veteran homeowners- have you been spending more time at home? imagining the possibilities? like a bigger kitchen, a swimming pool for the grandkids, or a backyard deck. your va home loan benefit and the newday 100 va loan make it possible. by borrowing up

russia has demanded that nato do not admit ukraine, which borders both russia and belarus. an invasion of ukraine, and has announced it will help to strengthen its borders. moscow denies this. a week of events is taking place in south africa to mark the life of the anti—apartheid leader archbishop desmond tutu, who died on sunday at the age of 90. in an attempt to prevent the spread of covid—19, the anglican church has encouraged multiple services to avoid large crowds gathering. the state funeral for archbishop tutu will take place on saturday. here's our south africa correspondent, nomsa maseko. a week of commemorative events in honour of archbishop tutu is well under way all over south africa, notjust here in cape town. mourners gathered for midday prayers outside tutu's home in soweto, to pay their respects to the man who was chosen by nelson mandela to head south africa's tumultuous reconciliation process. many people have been visiting desmond tutu's home here in cape town since his death was announced on boxing day. in the midst of the pain and sorrow, it's very comf

hell headlining this, our asylum seekers may have to wait months at the e u. belarus border to get processed. if a do plan from brussels gets the go ahead. white group say the move throws away the rollbook. the thing unions around the globe call for covert vaccine patents to be lifted. blaming production restrictions for depths in the developing world. the army constrain will be followed the others if we did not act. and if all countries in it adhere to a single vaccination strategy and the okay, high court sets a legal precedence where the ruling, the doctors could be found liable for negligent preconception advice after a woman born with a spine defect suit, her mother's general practitioner, we'll debate the case later this, our ah hello, live our worldwide. this is our to international from moscow. my name is colleen bray. welcome to world news 1st, then a violating asylum right campaign at her angry at an e u. solution for asylum seekers attempting to get into europe through the been russian border. there were still thousands stranded in bella, roasted a temporary shelter set up by the

russia has demanded that nato do not admit ukraine, which borders both russia and belarus.elp to strengthen its borders, something moscow denies. the us state of alaska has recorded its hottest—ever december day, amid an unusual winter warm spell. temperatures soared to a record i9.4c on the island of kodiak on sunday — almost seven degrees warmer than the state's previous high. but elsewhere in alaska temperatures have been plunging to record lows. mary leith is city administrator with delta junction in alaska. how extraordinary is this? have you witnessed anything like this before?— you witnessed anything like this before? you witnessed anything like thisbefore? ., . ., this before? not as much as no as we have _ this before? not as much as no as we have been _ this before? not as much as no as we have been getting - this before? not as much as no as we have been getting this i as we have been getting this year. i have not witnessed this in the interior of alaska.- in the interior of alaska. what is the main — in the interior of alaska. what is the main worry? _ in the in

he's accused of sparking hatred in belarus society. this again comes as no surprise.uld also add that in the case, there were six participants in total and most of them have received a sentence between 14 years and 16 years. his jail sentences -- sentence is the bgest. laura: we go to india now where people killed by thendian army have rejected government compensation. the 14 civilians were killed in myanmar where there is a long-running insurgency against the indian war. families want the soldiers prosecuted. this report does contain some distressing images. reporter: a bride of 10 days mourns the loss of her husband. promises made to ea other, now only memories. >> i waited until midnight for him to return home. i messaged, hoping he was alive. his friend picked up and said your husband has been shot. we are taking him to the hospital. i insisted on talking to him, but he would barely talk. in the next hour, everything was finished. reporter: her husband was a minor on his way home from work. they opened fire, mistaking the man for insurgents. tics miners were lled

>> well, russia believes that ukraine as well as belarus are part of the old great historical russiand that they should not draw in western alliances because in the end -- because in the end, they should reunite with a greater pressure proper. a piece was published this summer, and i know not only putin, but many of the russian elite believe this is so, but there are also some very concrete security concerns, and by putin personally because it is no idea from the time of the missile crisis of the 1980's when american missiles were deployed and when-based cruise missiles were deployed in europe that the west, the united states are planning a decapitating first blow to destroy the russian political military leadership so that the russian military can be well organized for a reply attack, and that is what putin is talking about. he is talking about himself. he is the main target, and that is what the russian general staff is telling the kremlin, that putin is the main target, the americans want to kill putin, and he believes this is so, and that is why his reaction is very emotional. it

can you speak to whether we view what's happening in belarus in that way? i know the ukrainians view it that way because we heard that when we were in halifax for the international security forum and met with some ukrainian officials. >> well, as you know, senator, the situation in belarus is just tragic and really concerning in many, many ways, which is why the administration, along with the european union in a multi lateral way increased sanctions just last week including blocking the sale to us or to europe of one of the great sources of lukashenko's money, potash, etcetera, and sanctioned some dozens more belarusans responsible for the violence and intimidation there and particularly now for the weaponization of migrants pushing, accepting them from third countries then pushing them against the eu's border in a very cynical and dangerous way. i think you are talking about the potential as lukashenko becomes more and more dependent on the kremlin and gives up more and more of belarus's sovereignty, something that he told his people he would never do. tha

>> well, russia believes that ukraine as well as belarus are part of the old great historical russiand that they should not draw in western alliances because in the end -- because in the end, they should reunite with a greater pressure proper. a piece was published this summer, and i know not only putin, but many of the russian elite believe this is so, but there are also some very concrete security concerns, and by putin personally because it is no idea from the time of the missile crisis of the 1980's when american missiles were deployed and when-based cruise missiles were deployed in europe that the west, the united states are planning a decapitating first blow to destroy the russian political military leadership so that the russian military can be well organized for a reply attack, and that is what putin is talking about. he is talking about himself. he is the main target, and that is what the russian general staff is telling the kremlin, that putin is the main target, the americans want to kill putin, and he believes this is so, and that is why his reaction is very emotional. it

sees migrants. >> being a migrant myself, i have an empathy for the people who are now coming from belaruse terrible conditions. >> after years of living abroad, these polls are living with them new skills and life experiences that may shape the country's economy and politics. bb news. >> preserving your mental health can take a number of different forms. including art. an award-winning photographer has a new exhibition called laughing at gravity with a show that he says depicts how he has handled discrimination in his day to day life. >> this is laugh at gravity, the first solo show exhibition by this award-winning photographer. >> when i first started, i didn't have many people tsit for me. then i became the sitter for my work. i became the subject and the artist and then i had to figure out what my relationship is with my own body and in many of the shots, if you look at them, i'm not really looking at the camera . i'm always looking away so the fa is a mask in the bodys a canvas. >> amongst his work it shines light on the black british experience and communicates that to a worldwide au