rory challands has more from moscow. >> the sites and sounds of a russian orthodox surface. in the skis im of 1154, christianity split into the eastern orthodox and roman catholic worlds. moscow's ratty okay never has. >> the main topic is defending christians in the middle east who have been destroyed. there's loud voices from the church and the world calling for people to pay passengers. >> the welcome is an abstract eftenlt. >> maybe they are discussing issues. this will be useful for people, the world, everything. >> vladimir putin was not among

rory challands reports from moscow from all the to diplomatic developments. >> reporter: several days of cross-border artillery fire indicates syria's vortex is pulling in regional powers more deep reply. we see this as international support to terrorism, said the foreign minister, obligations taken by turkey as a member country of the international syria support group. turkey is of course a nato country and russia is aware that turkey is a potential fault line within the alliance. >> this is very unpleasant for nato and nato will do everything to prevent it but it doesn't depend on nato or russia but whether erdogan decides to intervene in syria. france germany italy and spain wouldn't want to fight because of erdogan's adventurism. >> last week they opened their first international office in moscow, russia insists they be involved in the stalled geneva negotiations. turkey says any kurdish autonomy is existential threat. davutoglu lashed out. >> ypg and pyd forces who are simply pawns meaptd b meaptd b y russia. >> even if the sessionatio cessf hostilities commences. but if it keeps

rory challands is on the line from moscow. attention from the main players. >> that's right. the kremlin has this conversation. trying to base the needs, it could have been worse than it was. so they do agree on - this cessation of hostilities that worked out in munich last week. that is a good thing. that is taken out of cooperation between russia and the united states, at the military level. and it will be structured for the purpose of implementing the state of the groups in munich. where they disagree on the nuts and bolts of what is going on in this area, and the kremlin said that vladimir putin expressed the need of double standard. the kremlin believes that the united states is hypocritical and saying that it's acting on terrorism, but supporting groups in syria. physically working against the korean states. they found it's with the agreement. a ceasefire sustained hostilities where they worked. i suppose that there's minimum cooperation. >> all right. thank you for that. rory challands then on the ongoing diplomatic debate and effort to get a form of peace established

rory challands is live for us in moscow.talk us through the response and what the fear is about the saudi arabia offer. >> well, let's ever a little recap, because what we know at the moment is that the rebels in syria are currently coming under immense amounts of pressure from syrian government offensive aided, of course by massive russian air power. the rebels have walked away from talks in geneva in disgust. at the same time, russia is now paying increasing attention to reports in the last few days that first the turkish and now the saudis might be about to enter the war with a ground incursion. it looks, really, as if the gauntlet is being thrown down to russia, pressure put on russia by the u.s. and its partners. in deed, the u.s. has said that it would welcome saudi participation in the conflict. what this looks like is essential lib the u.s. and partners trying to play russia at its own game, because what they would say, if they did send in troops from turkey and saudi arabia is that they will go to extensively fight

from moscow rory challands reports. >> reporter: the sights and sounds of a russian orthodox service.hism of 1054 political and theological differences split christianity in to what are now the eastern orthodox and roman catholic worlds. although other orthodox patriarchs have met the pope since moscow's patriarch never has. >> translator: the main topic sought agenda will be defending christies in the middle east who are being destroyed. there have been loud voices from the catholic church and the orthodox world especially the russians calling for people to pay attention. unfortunately, these voices haven't been heard. >> reporter: for some of russia's faithful, the meeting is a welcomed, if rather abstract events. >> translator: i think any negotiations are good. maybe they are going to discuss some issues or solve some problems. >> we hope this meeting will be useful for people, for world, for everything, peace is the most important thing. >> reporter: though president putin wasn't among the priests waving the patriarch off on thursday, the kremlin has presumably given this trip ap

rory challands, al jazeera, moscow. >>> google executives have been facing u.k.or a second grilling over the company's tax affairs. there is a public outcry over public tax regulations which some say are unfair, m.p.s pressed the president on exactly what he earns. >> i understand the anger and, indeed -- >> do you really understand the anger? what do you get paid? >> if that's relevant i'll happily disclose that. >> i am asking what you get paid? >> i will happily disclose that if it's a relevant matter. >> it is relevant so i am asking you. >> i don't have the figure. >> you don't know what you get paid? [ laughter ] >> chair, let me -- >> well, there is growing frustration in europe over the tax arrangements of giants multi-national companies. in britain the government's announcement that google should pay $200 million in back taxes was widely condemned by many as too lenient think but one welsh down believes its found a way for make sure everyone is taxed fairly, barnaby phillips reports. >> reporter: a small town in the welsh hills hopes start a revolution i

rory challands reports from moscow. >> reporter: through the haze of a wintery days turkish shells fall on land held by russian fighters. syria's fosyria's for text issyn stronger. violent taken by turkey as a member country of the international syria support group. turkey is of course a nato country. and russia is aware it is a necessary fault line for the alliance. >> it doesn't depend on nato or russia. it depends whether erdogan wants to intervene in syria. france, germany, italy, spain wouldn't want to fight russia because of turkey's adventurism. >> russian insists they be involved in the stalled good evening negotiations. for turkey this is out of the question. davutoglu was in ceaive on kievy where anti-russian feelings are evident. >> turkey's reaction if they continue to act in this manner, russia has basically made the munich agreement insignificant by the statement made today. >> reporter: russia has made it explicitly clear. but if it keeps hitting groups that turkey or its western or regional allies support and if turkey keeps on shelling syria's kurdish fighters then bear

rory challands reports. >> it's been a very busy day of telephone diplomacy for vladimir putin. first of all he spoke to president bashar al-assad. now remember a few days ago assad said he wanted to carry on fighting in syria to retake the whole country. russia essentially was forced to tell him to shut up and it does seem now like bashar al-assad at least on paper is pledging commitments to the u.s. russian brokered ceasefire plan for syria. after that, putin spoke to the saudi arabian king, also to rouhani and to benjamin netanyahu. you duet a real sense of cautious optimism coming out of the kremlin right now. i think they believe they are on the cusp of achieving two of their main goals. the first one was of course shore up president bashar al-assad, prevent him from some sort of chaotic collapse. but the second goal was to convince the united states that russia is essentially an equal partner and needs to be treated with due respect in the middle east. >> rory challands reporting from moscow. president obama says he does not want to set high expectations for truce. the pre

rory challands is live from moscow. through how this is going through down there, rory. >> reporter: well, over the last few days, the rebels in syria are taking an absolute pummelling at the moment from this government offensive supported by massive russian air power. zana has just showed us the report highlighting the humanitarian costs of that. in response, the rebels have walked away from talks in geneva. at the same time, over the last few days, the russians have become increasingly aware of reports suggesting that turkey first, and now saudi arabia, might be about to send ground forces into syria. now it looks like, really, the gauntlet is being thrown down to russia here. a bit of pressure being applied to the russians by the u.s. and its partners. essentially what this would do, if it were true, is play the russians at their own game, because what the russians have done in their -- in their conflict, they have said they are primarily fighting isil, but what they are really doing is supporting the government forc

. >>> let's get the latest reaction from moscow, and speak to al jazeera's rory challands. what more did the russian foreign minister have to say about this russian plan to end the syrian crisis? >> reporter: to be honest he didn't really say anything more than that. it's all a little bit cryptic. it seems the state department in the u.s. is a bit confused about exactly what it is that the russians have proposed. it didn't come out of some kind of snap -- snap prez briefing from sergei lavrov. it came from a fairly long and in-depth interview he cave to a newspaper here on thieve of diplomats day tomorrow. he was talking about a great many things to do with foreign policy, he was talking about ukraine. he was talking about angela merkel's support for the turkish, and how he was confused by this. it was ignoring certain facts he said like the smuggling of oil across the turkish border, et cetera. and in this interview with this newspaper he said the russians had given the americans some concrete proposals for resolving the situation in syria. the americans had been looking at

rory challands joining us on the news hour. i guess you have russia playing the diplomat here.y have got the deal with the united states with the ceasefire, but they are allies with syria and they are in the middle now. >> reporter: yeah, it has been a busy day for vladimir putin. he has been on the phone numerous times to numerous different leaders in the region. he has spoken to president bashar al-assad. he has spoken to rouhani of iran, the saudi arabia king, and prime minister benjamin netenyahu of israel. it seems a message is being conveyed not just to the united states, also to the leaders of the middle east, that russia really is a force to be reckoned with now. it likes to think of itself as a key power broker in the region. one of the things that vladimir putin was saying to -- to president bashar al-assad is essentially, you have got to be on board with this russian u.s.-brokered peace process. remember that bashar al-assad went slightly off message last week when he said that syria would carry on fighting -- or he would carry on fighting until he gained the whole o

rory challands has the latest from moscow. >> reporter: rescue efforts have been called off of the the series of methane explosions means it's too unsafe to try to see if anyone is alive. the mining company is trying to work out what to do next. they have two options, flooding it with water to put out the fires that are burning or shut off the air supply and as fixiate the flames, and it doesn't need to be spelt out what it means for anyone that may be alive under ground. the emergency ministry says conditions are so severe they don't think survivors are left. russia has a lamentable record, with a lot of poorly maintained mines from the soviet period and there are safety regulations on paper. often they are not properly enforced, and the fact that they are in remote parts of the country. when they go wrong, it's difficult to mount a proper organisation. >>> right wing swiss people's party is proposing to deport foreigners that commit two offenses with no right of appeal. offenses include drivers running a red light and speeding. critics condemn the motives as discriminatory. nigeria's

rory challands from moscow. >> through the haze of a wintry day turkish shells fall an land held by fightersseveral days of cross-border fire indicates syria's vortex is sucking in regional powers deeper. russian agent reacted angrily to the shelling. we see it as open support to international terrorist. and the violation of relevant resolutions to the security council, and obligations taken by turkey as a member country of the syrian support group. >> turkey is an n.a.t.o. country. russia is aware that turkey is a fault line within the alliance. >> this is unpleasant for n.a.t.o. they'll do everything to prevent it. it depends on whether recep tayyip erdogan decides to intervene in syria. n.a.t.o.'s code doesn't mean it will need to intervenes. >> russia is courting syria's kurds. last week they argued the first international office in moscow. russia insists they be involved in the stall said geneva negotiations. >> for turkey this is out of the question. it seems any encouragement has an existential threat. we go to kiev, where anti-russian feeling is strong. he lashed out at moscow and ku

rory challands is live for us to tell us about what happened on that phone call. >> i think the russians over the last few days have basically been trying to make sure that assad at least on that paper is committed to this u.s.-russian brokered ceasefire plan for syria, because remember that about a week ago, president bashar al assad went slightly off message and said that he was prepared to keep on fighting in syria to take back the whole of the country, the russians effectively had to tell him to shut up and reminded him that they'd invested significantly, militarily, politically, financially in his regime and it does seem like he said done that and at least committed verbally to upholding this ceasefire deal. that hasn't been the only conversation vladimir putin has had with a leader in the region. he has talked to rouhani, benjamin netanyahu and the saudi king. it seems like the russian president is on a bit of a diplomatic overdrive at the moment, maybe a message being sent to the region and also that the united states that russia is now a power broker and a force to be reckoned wi

we'll find out more about that conversation, and speak to rory challands with more on that. >> here is a quote for you, i'll read it. it's from the spokesman for the kremlin, saying moscow and damascus have quite a lot of similar points of view on the prospects of approaching a political settlement of the syrian crisis. the points of view are not identical. he's right. remember, recently russia essentially had to tell bashar al-assad it shut up when bashar al-assad said he'd carry on fighting and retake the whole of syria. basically that they should take the russian leadership on this and it should be the benefit of brokering a russian deal. now it seems that the bashar al-assad government has been cowed in a sense, and bashar al-assad in the phone call girls that they are ready to assist in the establishment of the ceasefire. vladimir putin and bashar al-assad claim they'll carry on the fight against terrorist groups like i.s.i.l. and nusra. it's a game of both of them. they maintained that that is the case. >> along with that conversation that vladimir putin had, it seems that he's s

rory challands reports. >> there are countries where an act of protest and an act of mourning is one and the same. the murder of boris nemtsov a year ago is still a source of grief and anger for many. >> this atrocious crime which happened a year ago, made boris nemtsov a political icon in our country. >> now there is no real opposition in russia. nor parliamentary opposition. you can buy a party membership, and the future of russia can only depend on the ordinary people who come out to riots and looting lies like this one. >> russia without putin is one of the chants, and also russia will be free. reminders that the former deputy prime minister was a tireless thorn in the kremlin's side was a beacon for those who don't like the road their country has taken. for the many thousands of people who come here today, boris nemtsov represent a russia that might have been. that begs the question, can that dream survive with his death? there are a good many people who are trying to keep it alive five chechen men have been charged with the murder. a sixth is being hunted. the man believe ultim

rory challands reports. >> reporter: this video has a written warning. kasiona goes to strasburg for money for the russian opposition it syas, who hasn't understood, will understand. unsurprisingly the two men see ramsdam's instagram post as a direct death threat. >> well, i have no doubt and others are of the same position, that this is open and public incitement to murder. there's no other way to interpret it. especially given his reputation and his background. we will both file an official request to the investigative committee of russian investigation for a criminal investigation. >> the video is not a one off. two weeks ago kadirof was pictured with a snarling dog, waiting to sink its teeth into russian opposition leaders and independent journalists, we were told. chechnya's leader wrote that they should be treated as enemies of the people, locked up in psychiatric hospitals. a politician that rejected this was intimidated into recording a grovelling apology. almost a year ago a leading light of the russian opposition politicians was shot dead meter

rory challands has moore from moscow. >> reporter: this woman waits nervously for her court hearing toshe will hear if her house arrest is to be extended. they say she distributed anti-russian books. defending her is this lawyer. >> translator: in 2014, the number of high treason cases increased three times compared to the previous year. this explosion happened with the background of the european conflict. we connect it to the military rhetoric, and a surge for enemies. >> reporter: he leads team 29, an informal collective of young lawyers and journalists, they defend those the state considers traitors. this mother of seven was arrested last year for telling ukraine's russian embassy that troops based in her hometown were being sent to fight in the [ inaudible ]. her case was eventually dropped. and this is the online project, advise on what to do if the sfb comes knocking. this is their headquarters, so if the men from here appear at your front door asking you to accompany them, don't go with them, they say. also don't tell them anything. again, you don't have to. warn your family not

rory challands has the story from moscow. >> reporter: let's recap what has been happening.we know that the syrian rebels are taking an absolute pounding at the moment from this offensive launched by government forces backed up by massive russian air support. in disgust, the rebels and the opposition have left talks in geneva. at the same time, over the last few days the russians have become increasingly aware of reports that first the turkish and now the saudi arabiians might be preparing to send ground forces into the syrian conflict. n now essentially this looks like the gaun -- gauntlet is being put down for russia. the u.s. said it would welcome saudi participation in the war. the justification for the incursion would be fighting isil. but the more likely reason is to support their favored side in the conflict. now if that sounds familiar, that's because it's the same sort of language that the russians used. essentially this would be playing the russians their own game. and the russians don't really know what to make of this. we have heard from a senator saying such an

rescue operations at the mine have been halted: those trapped underground have all died rory challandss in moscow and has the latest. >> reporter: rescue efforts have been called off. the series of explosions mean it's just too unsafe to try and see if anyone else is still alive. the mining company is trying to work out what to do next. it has two options really. flood the mine with water to try and put out the fires that are still burning or shut off the air supply and asphyx-80 those flames. it doesn't need to be spelled out for what that might mean for anyone who might be alive. the ministry says the conditions are so severe down this mine that they don't think there are any survivors left. now, russia has a pretty lamentable record for mining safety, a lot of poorly maintained mines left over from the soviet period and there are safety regulations on paper but often these are not properly enforced. the fact that these mines are often in remote parts of the country mean when things go wrong, it's difficult to mount a proper rescue operation. >> at least 15 people have died and sever

rory challands has the latest from moscow. >> reporter: it's been a very busy day of telephone diplomacyor vladimir putin. first of all, he spoke to president bashar al-assad. now remember a few days ago, assad said he wanted to carry on fighting in syria to retake the whole country. russia essentially was forced to tell him to shut up, and it does seem now like bashar al-assad at least on paper is pledging commitment to the u.s.-russian brokered ceasefire plan for syria. after that, putin spoke to the saudi arabiian king, and spoke to raw dhani of rooirn -- iran, and to benjamin netenyahu. all of this seems to be suggesting that russia is a power broker and a force to be reckoned with. you get a sense of cautious optimism coming out of russia now. they are on the cusp of maintaining two of their goals. the first was to shore up bashar al-assad, but the second goal, was to convince the united states that russia is an equal partner and needs to be treated with due respect in the middle east. ♪ >>> campaigning is continuing in iran where people will go to the polls on friday. there are two

rory challands has the latest from moscow. >> reporter: it has been a very busy day of telephone diplomacy vladimir putin. remember, assad said he wanted to retake the whole country. russia was forced to tell him to shut up, and it does seem now like bashar al-assad at least on paper is pledging commitment to the u.s.-russia negotiated ceasefire. after that putin spoke to other leaders. the message from all of this seems to be to the united states and to the middle east region, that russia is a power broker and a force to be reckoned with. you get a real sense of cautious optimism coming out of the kremlin right now. i think they believe that they are on the cusp of achieving two of their main goals. the first was to shore up president bashar al-assad and prevent him from some sort of chaotic collapse. but the second goal was to convince the united states that russia is essentially an equal partner, and needs to be treated with due respect in the middle east. >>> the british government says there is disturbing evidence that syrian kurdish fighters are coordinated with the syrian government

rory challands reports. >> reporter: there are countries where an act of protest and an act of morningometimes the same. the murder of opinion jury leader nemtsov a year ago is still a source of grief and anger for many. >> this atrocious crime which happened a year ago is murder. it made boris nemtsov an eicon n our country. >>> now there is no real opposition in russia. all parliament opposition parties are artificial. you can buy a party membership. the future of russia can only depend upon the ordinary people who come out to rallies like this one expressing their position. >> reporter: russia without putin was one of the chants and also, russia will be free, reminders that the former deputy prime minister was a tireless thorn in the kremlin's sign are a beacon to those who don't like the road their country is taking. for the mistaken thousands who have come here today, nemtsov presented a russia that might have been. >> begs the question: can that dream survive with his death? judging by the numbers here, there are a good many people trying to keep it alive. 5 chechen men have been

rory challands has more. >> reporter: this woman waits nervously for her court hearing to start.ar if her house arrest is to be extended. investigators say her library distributed anti-russia books. and they consider her extremists. >> translator: in 2014 the number of high treason cases increased three times. this explosion happened with the background of the ukrainian conflict. we connect it to the authority's militaristic rhetoric. >> reporter: he leads team 29, a collective of young lawyers and journalists. they complain for freedom of information, and defend those the state considers traitors. this mother of seven was arrested last year for telling ukraine's russian embassy that troops based in her home were being spent to fight. her treason charge was eventually dropped. this is the new online project, it's called if they come for you. advice for what to do if the fsb comes knocking. this is their headquarters. so if the men from here appear at your front door asking you to accompany them for an informal chat don't go with them. you don't have to. also don't tell them anyth

rory challands has more from moscow. >> the sites and sounds of a russian orthodox surface. in the skis im of 1154, christianity split into the eastern orthodox and roman catholic worlds. moscow's ratty okay never has. >> the main topic is defending christians in the middle east who have been destroyed. there's loud voices from the church and the world calling for people to pay passengers. >> the welcome is an abstract eftenlt. >> maybe they are discussing issues. this will be useful for people, the world, everything. >> vladimir putin was not among the priest. the kremlin has given this diplomatic trip the approval. in cuba, the two men sign a declaration. as well as the fate of christians, it will be discussed. it is less critical of poll cities. moscow's church is chaired. services are healed in poland. the father going on the trip has high hopes. when leaders come together showing a willingness to speak. it's person towards each other. >> as historic as the meeting is it's not about history, it's about whether it can help with today, whether it can open a chanter, a new

they maintain that that is the case. >> that is rory challands in moscow >>> voters in bolivia rejecting a controversial amendment allowing e.v.o. morales to run for a fourth time. he's been praised for boosting the economy. administration was plagued by scandals leading up to the referendum, including allegations that he may have been involved in influence >>> in kooub a, the older both -- cuba, the older brother of fidel and raul died. ramon stayed out of the lime light. becoming a farmer. he was a consultant for the ministries of agriculture and sugar. >> china spent fighter jets to the south carolina. adding tensions to a delicate situation in the disputed islands in. tom ackerman has more. >> reporter: the satellite images taken and released by a washington think tank show possible radar facilities deployed on artible islands in in the spratly claim. one of the islands in further from its own showers than to vietnam, philippines and borneo. the chinese installed missile batteries on another island further north. that means it's evident to the top officer in the region. >> china is m

al jazeera's rory challands reports from moscow. >> rescue efforts have been called off now. the series of methane discloses mean it's too unsafe to see if anyone is still alive. mining company is trying to work out what to do next. it has two options really, flood the mine with water to try to put out the fires that are still burning or shut off the air supplies and asphyxiate those flames. of course the conditions are so severe, down in this mine, they don't think any survivors are left. russia has a pretty lamentable record of mining regulations, therthere are regulation on papr but not often enforced. in remote parts of the country when things do go wrong it is very difficult to mount a proper rescue operation. >> in virginia an army staff sergeant is under arrest for the murder of a roo rookie police officer. when police arrived to investigate reports of gun shots, ashley quindon was shot. intern for the department had a master's degree in forensic science. it seems as if no industry is safe from hackers and that even includes hospitals. while hackers have realized break

. >> rory challands there from moscow >>> a referendum is being held in switzerland on expelling foreigners with criminal records. the right wing party is deposing to deport those that commit two minor offenses, with no rite of appeal. the offenses include drivers running a red light and speeding. critics condemn the motives of the party as dangerously discriminatory >>> a small town takes in one of the highest numbers of refugees. local authorities say the resources are stretched and they can't take any more. mohammed jamjoom reports, refugees say they can't go home either. >> he's further from iraq than he imagined. the last thing he is is homesick. i'm looking. i feel safe. now i'm here where things are safe. how could i not feel good. >> without a lot to do, the 24 yooefrl gets bored. waiting to find out if he'll get asylum. >> i didn't come here to play and laugh. i came on my own to work and survive. >> that feeling is reflected by the people that live and work at this center. who say the presence of refugees in the long run will help. >> i would say to use the potential to benefit th

rory challands. al jazeera, moscow. >>> russian analyst, alex, weren't we talking about what's currently going on. what is the end game for russia here this this current escalation if wee can call it that in syria? >> well, russia went to syria for several goals but the key objective for russia is political. the conflict in ukraine led to russia being isolated and in confrontation with a much wealthier and stronger west. and it was a position of weakness for russia so the kremlin decided to go into the middle east to syria where it could according to the kremlin's planners win militarily and come back to the negotiating table with the west from a position of strength. and that's what's ultimately the kremlin trying to pursue that. >> so in this terribly cynical chess game that we have currently going on, we're seeing hospitals and schools bein bein. a flagrant violation of international law, says the u.n. if russia is behind those strikes what is the strategy? would they say that's deliberate, that i

let's go to moscow now and speak with rory challands.sians have been accused of bombing those planned peace talks into failure. what is moscow saying about that? >> reporter: well, what moscow has been saying, particularly the defense ministry here has been trying to shift the focus today and point the finger at turkey. it says that turkey -- it has good evidence, moscow says, is planning some sort of ground offensive, a military incursion into syria. it says it has video evidence. in fact it realized video evidence recently of cross-border shelling from the turkish side into northern syria, and it says it is surprised that the americans and nato have not said anything more about this. in what the russians are saying are an imminent support. >>> leaders have met to discuss raising money to assist with the syrian refugees. many are educated and would like to work, but are struggling to find employment. our correspondent reports from jer -- jordan. >> reporter: these people are studies two days a week to be pharmacists. they have scholarsh

rory challands has the latest now from moscow. >> rescue efforts have been called off now. the series of explosions mean it's too unsafe to try and see if anyone else is still alive. the mining company is trying to work out what to do next. it has two options, really, flood the mine with water to try and put out the fires that are still burning, or shut off the air supply and asphyxiate those flames. it doesn't need to be spelled out for what that might mean to anyone who might be alive underground. the conditions are so severe down this mine that they don't think there are survivors left. russia has a bad record on mining safety. the fact that these mines are often in very remote parts of the country mean that when things do go wrong, it's very difficult to mount a proper rescue operation. >> nigeria president is in qatar to discuss falling oil price. last year in nigeria, the the economy grew at its slowest rate in 16 years. inflation has soared to 10% and government leaders are under pressure be to further devalue the currency, the nira. >>> the african union plans to se

rory challands has the latest from moscow. >> reporter: ref jew efforts have been called off now.of methane explosions mean it's just too safe to try to see if anyone else is still alive. the mining company is trying to work out what to do next. it has two options, really, flood the mine with water to try to put out the fires that are still burning or shut off the air supply and as fix 80 those flames, of course it doesn't need to be spelled out for what that might mean for anyone that might still be alive on the ground but the emergency ministry here says the conditions are so severe down this mine that he they want don't think there are any survivors left. now, russia does have a pretty lamentable record for mining safety. it has a lot of poorly-maintained mines leftover from the soviet period and there are safely rotations on paper but often they are not properly enforced. also the fact that these mines are often in very remote part of the country mean that when things do go wrong it's very difficult to actually mount a proper rescue operation. >>> now, sr. catholic cardinal ha

al jazeera's rory challands has this report. >> reporter: there are countries where an act of protest mourning are sometimes one in the same. modern russia is such a place. and the murder of opposition leader boris nemtsov a year ago is still a source of grief and anger for many. >> translator: this atrocious crime, which happened a year ago, his murder, made boris nemtsov an icon of opposition. a political icon in our country. >> translator: now there is no real opposition in russia. all parliamentary opposition pears are artificial. you can buy a party membership. and the future of russia can only depend on the ordinary people who come out to rails like this one expressing their civil position. [ chanting ] >> reporter: russia without putin was one of the chance and russia will be free. reminder that the former deputy prime minister and tireless thorn in the kremlin's side was a beacon to those who don't like the road their country has tak taken. for the many thousands here boris nemtsov represent aid russia that might have been. of course that begs the question, can that dream surv