soul quo vadis crimea. can only hope that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead stink whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian why. we're seeing ukraine where the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic. basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form. you first foresees question to at a point in time in the past crimea was handed. over to ukraine it passed from the russian to the ukrainian soviet republic within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable act it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find a form around about the war but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live here are heard just to get to eat. in the eyes of most of

soul quo vadis crimea. it can only be hoped that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead. whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian light. pushing we're seeing ukraine where the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic. basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form. the first floor she's going to at a point in time in the past crimea was hand. over to ukraine it passed from the russian to the ukrainian soviet republic within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable act as though it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find a form around about the war but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live here are heard it just to get to. in

government that it can't simply relinquish crimea as it's called. a. soul quo vadis crimea. it can only be hoped that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead think whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian live at. a closely or seek to create a way of the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic. basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form. you first foresee skiffy to at a point in time in the past crimea was handed over to ukraine it passed from the russian to the ukrainian soviet republic within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable lacked was the it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find a form and bounce. but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live here are heard just to do. in the eyes

sole quartus crimea. can only be hoped that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead think whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian news client. pushing the worse the ukrainian way and the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic and you put your basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form. the first forces could shoot at a point in time in the past crimea was handed over to ukraine it passed from the russian to the ukrainian so we are a family within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable act was the it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find a forman to balance the war but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live here are

government that it can't simply relinquish crimea as it's called. sold what is crimea. it can only be hoped that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead think whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian light. up the street is your seat you carry the weight of the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic and you put your basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form. the first four she's going to at a point in time in the past crimea was handed over to ukraine in the past from the russian to the ukrainian soviet republic within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable act was the it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find a form around about the war but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live

soul quo vadis crimea. it can only be hoped that the people of crimea can decide for themselves what lies ahead think whether we like it or not in my view we have no alternative but to accept that crimea is now and will remain russian jews live at. approaching even worse the ukraine the way the relationship between russia and ukraine is extremely dynamic. basically even today it has yet to find a definitive form though. you first of course she's going to add a point in time in the past crimea was handed over to ukraine in the past from the russian to the ukrainian soviet republic within the framework of the soviet union. it's difficult to see that as a justifiable act it was a step within the framework of a single state and when one state is suddenly replaced by two independent states it's logical that both will stake a claim. time will pass and the relationship between the two countries will find reform and bounds. but the most important thing is that the voices of the people who live here are heard just t

in your reports on the same day that crimea was annexed what do we make of that. i think there's only one thing that we are meant to make of that and that is that crimea its return as the kremlin posits this is the chief selling point of that in a putin's lost in office that's what he's really going to the voters with he's saying i stood up for russia against western resistance i did things that were popular with you but which brought a lot of resistance internationally and that his next term will be about more of the same about what he said calls collecting the russian lands in a way bringing together territories that was once good as by the soviet union in the face of significant resistance from abroad and this is a topic he returns to time time again the fact this vision of russia as a fortress under siege from foreign powers and that's one motif that he likes to to return to is something as a reason for russians to rally together under foreign pressure it's a selling point nick but it's also brought on international sanctions has it been worth it for vladimir

thanks to your decision sebastopol in crimea have returned home to our common. to mother russia three of those years. i think on sunday russia and crimea go to the polls today it is no coincidence coming as it does for you today this russian makes the peninsula really twenty years since you first became president vladimir putin will now be hoping the memory of those in the events is enough to bring people to politics this despite the fact that many see the election as a foregone conclusion. here in sebastopol those memories are still very much alive what's less clear is where the crimea still has the same emotional pull across the length and breadth over russia's ten times owns. was. ok two are developing now on our top story of the route between russia and western allies over the poisoning of former double agent a surrogate script all in britain now in comments made just a short while ago where british foreign secretary boris johnson has said that it was likely that russian president vladimir putin personally made the decision to carry out the nerve agent attac

how do the residents of crimea view their identity model. crimea through the agents. in fifteen minutes on t.w. . earth home to millions of species the home

i think quite limited but we've already got sanctions on russia over ukraine and crimea. there is however one key area and i think this is what everybody's going to watch and that's when. on the flow of russian money through london there is an oaf a lot of the russian money that is if you like to use no other word loaned through london and the brits have been very hesitant clamping down on that it's high time they did the opposition is pushing them to be much tougher on that and i think that's actually the one thing they could do that might actually really hurt in moscow and let's look a little closer at the response to this joint response and what the various leaders are saying about the russian attack on france's president manuel mccaughan he's used much firmer language kate than chancellor angela merkel let's have a listen in to what my aunt had to say to put the quad the high school said everything makes us believe that russia is responsible for the us and others in the joint work of the british and french agencies confirms that. there's if france strongly condemns th

the national spotlight is on crimea fresh from an appearance on russia's main t.v. channel we spoke to crime is deputy prime minister and he denied any dirty tricks are being used for what it hopes the election is a completely free and democratic process there for crimean people go to the polling stations and make the choice they want we think turnout will be quite high since what we saw the referendum because crimea and people don't see it as an obligation it's a celebration for us. as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year it's elects a really important to. so let's assume the ready made putin with all the autocratic tools he has at his disposal he's going to win this election and he's going to win it comfortably what does that actually mean well barring a revolution what will get is six more years of putinism and we know from our experience that putin basically responds to the vulnerabilities that he sees in russia's position with very forceful aggressive behavior so i think we're probably going to

in a presidential election on sunday it's a day that also marks four years since the annexation of crimea we had to the peninsula to find out how people there are feeling out of the vote. i'm sumi so what's going to thank you for joining us russia's foreign minister says moscow will expel a u.k. diplomats after western allies accused it of attempting to murder a former russian spy in britain and a joint declaration the u.s. france and germany backed britain directly blaming moscow for last week's attack using a nerve agent. british prime minister to reason may is one of the few visitors to salzburg these days traders in the cathedral town say tourists and shoppers are staying away in the wake of the poisoning of former russian double agent sergei script and his daughter yulia may visit at the restaurant where the chemical attack took place and put the blame squarely on moscow. it is right that the u.k. government reacts in a robust way to what has happened here in seoul break that is exactly what we've done either now so that we will explain it be expecting twenty three russian diplomats

ballots in presidential elections on sunday a day that also marks four years since the annexation of crimea our correspondent pence and then flew to find out how people there are likely to. go on terry martin good to have you with us u.s. president donald trump says he will impose new sanctions on russia in response to moscow's alleged meddling in the two thousand and sixteen u.s. presidential election the united states has also signed a joint declaration with france and germany in support of britain's standoff with russia over the attempted murder of a former russian spy britain blames russia for the attack in the english city of souls for a using the deadly soviet era nerve agent no which will. british prime minister to reason may is one of the few visitors to salzburg these days traders in the cathedral town say tourists and shoppers are staying away in the wake of the poisoning of former russian double agent sergei script and his daughter yulia may visited the restaurant where the chemical attack took place and put the blame squarely on moscow. it is right that the u.k. government react

in crimea in sevastopol flanking crimea ins for their choice and then this evening after all the voting is finished on red square in moscow that's going to be a big event called russia sevastopol crimea so you can see really how important crimea is in this election campaign it's never been officially admitted but that certainly is the case chalons how does era for inside story sevastopol crimea. ok let's bring in our guest now in moscow puddle of felgenhauer economist in the voyage gazeta in new york and a fellow at the washington institute for near east policy and in london via skype james nixey head of the russia and eurasia program at the foreign affairs think tank chatham house great to have you all with us thanks for being here on inside story so pavel let's just start with you because the key question here that least the one that putin wants to know is is it looking like a large enough turnout to legitimize this face or apparently yes so indications are that turned out this rather robust and the u.s. president vladimir putin would be reelected than is being reelected right as we s

turnout is that actually here in crimea it seems the turnout is a little bit lower than it was in the country as a whole so here sixty three to sixty five percent of registered voters turned out whereas the national figure was sixty seven percent now it's very possible i think that perhaps the boycotts of the election which the crimean tarts our population here are a minority muslim population had called for the haps that brought the turnout figure down a little bit we'll have to see the final figures but what is true is that the official figures here point to ninety two percent of the people who did vote here voted for him a putin for a woman i spoke to this morning she said this is a very good day we can hear my report now from crimea as the home of russia's black sea fleet sevastopol has always felt like a russian city even in the years before crimea was annexed when this territory was leased off ukraine. so the polling stations here bustled with cadets the naval officers and military policemen and civilians most seemingly happy for crimea to be voting in its first russian presiden

crimea that was a crucial the place was a very high turnout was there was that there was a percent a very high showing for president putin as well full all right how was it as you saw it it was a very great privilege to be there precisely because it had not just national but international consequence it was widely seen as being a second referendum on the reification of crimea with with the russian federation and so that explains the the high participation exit at the same time with the technically people voting procedure was very impressive there were no lines there was a steady flow during the day at all the dozen electoral districts because if you didn't yell to in simferopol and a couple of small villages on the way the technical equipment was an it was quite amazing so it's going to be and it's not something you often talk about really day to day you often think it will less so these days you know easy to get books so you need to be like that in britain not that long ago i think it probably still is. it wasn't a vote today but how technical was the reason the c.c.t.v. cameras tho

in crimea entire towns like historical back she's a right the mood is different. mainly oppose the annexation intend to boycott the election but they say they're being pressured to vote. there were threats at all levels that people could lose their jobs for example in our local school the director says think again of local people don't go to the elections they might fire me therefore i think some of the teachers will go to. the national spotlight is on crimea fresh from an appearance on russia's main t.v. channel we spoke to crime is deputy prime minister and he denied any dirty tricks of being used before the election is a completely free and democratic process therefore crimean people go to the polling stations and make the choice they want we think turnout will be quite high some us what we saw the referendum because crimea people don't see it as an obligation it's a celebration for us. as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year and selects a really important to reach alan's how does it run. let's

problem of crimea is going to continue to fester. this is territory that is considered by the vast majority of countries around the world to be illegally an extraordinary crane illegally occupied by russia of course in russia itself this is karim gnash our crimea never to be let go never to be surrendered but it's kind of an illustration of the difficulty the crimea presents was the the sea although it sent more misses all around russia sort of check up on the vote in this polling stations etc didn't send any monitors here to crimea because of its disputed status so we got some very strange individual showing up here from around europe and further afield from one of these elections are speaking to a frenchman yesterday who is the representative in france for the donetsk people's republic the separatists who are fighting against the ukrainian government in eastern ukraine and until the crimea gets resolved at some points in the feature it's going to carry on being in. issue sanctions have been levied against the russian federation bec

but that certainly is the case chalons al-jazeera for inside story sevastopol crimea. ok let's bring in our guest now in moscow pavel felgenhauer congressman the voyage . in new york and a fellow at the washington institute for near east policy and in london via skype james nixey head of the russia and eurasia program at the foreign affairs think tank chatham house great to have you all with us thanks for being here on inside stories. so pavel let's just start with you because the key question here that least the one that putin wants to know is is it looking like a large enough turnout to legitimize this phase or parent well yes oh and occasions are that this rather reversed and the u.s. president's words in reports and would be reelected than is being reworked it rise as we speak and there was never a doubt that he would be reelected and apparently he'll get a good turnout and a good man mandate for another six years he wanted this seventy seventy seventy percent turnout and seventy percent of that vote was that a bit too ambitious or do you think he's actually going

but that certainly is the case for each allan's al-jazeera for inside story sevastopol crimea. ok let's bring in our guest now in moscow pavel felgenhauer economist been the voyage guys that are in new york and a fellow at the washington institute for near east policy and in london via skype james nixey head of the russia and eurasia program at the foreign affairs think tank chatham house great to have you all with us thanks for being here on inside stories. so pavel let's just start with you because the key question here that least the one that putin wants to know is is it looking like a large enough turnout to legitimize this phase or apparently yes oh and occasions are that this rather robust and the u.s. president's words in reports and would be reelected than is being reacted rise as we speak and there was never doubt that he would be reelected and apparently he'll get a good turnout and a good man mandate for another six years he wanted this seventy seventy seventy percent turnout and seventy percent of that vote was that a bit too ambitious or do you think he's actually

but that certainly is the case chalons al-jazeera for inside story sevastopol crimea. ok let's bring in our guest now in moscow pavel felgenhauer congressman the voyage . in new york and a fellow at the washington institute for near east policy and in london via skype james nixey head of the russia and eurasia program at the foreign affairs think tank chatham house great to have you all with us thanks for being here on inside stories. so pavel let's just start with you because the key question here that least the one that putin wants to know is is it looking like a large enough turnout to legitimize this phase or apparently yes oh and occasions are that this rather reversed and the u.s. president for them reports and would be reelected than is being reelected rise as we speak and there was never doubt that he would be reelected and apparently he'll get a good turnout and a good man mandate for another six years he wanted this seventy seventy seventy percent turnout and seventy percent of that vote was that a bit too ambitious or do you think he's actually going to get

chalons reports from crimea largest city. as the home of russia's black sea fleet sevastopol has always felt like a russian city even in the years before crimea was annexed when this territory was leased off ukraine so the polling stations here bustled with cadets naval officers military policemen and civilians most seemingly happy for crimea to be voting in its first russian presidential election and most seemingly happy to cost their ballot for one man. yes this is that of course we voted for the president of the russian federation for number one vladimir putin. if he didn't take civil stop all in the whole of crimea under his arm it would have ended up in the wrong hands if he didn't do what he did who knows who would have been in charge of this fleet now watches or thirty's want to connect this presidential election as much as possible with another vote that happens four years ago and so everyone in the cast their ballots in this polling station today and around sebastopol gets a medal and this medal has the dates of the

crimea. out to zero crimea. and out of. syria as northwest region have vowed to fight on after the main town was taken by kurdish forces and their allies to launch its operation to clear the enclave of kurdish fighters in january they'll try to say they'll now use tactics against attack andrew symonds reports from turkey southern border with syria. they reached a friend at sunrise columns of free syrian army fighters turkish special forces have been active on the ground ahead of them kurdish why p.g. fighters have withdrawn in large numbers there was limited resistance on what the rebel fighters backed and directed by turkey with ground forces and their strikes to declare victory here. i just want to after we enter the fray and with that all the center buildings we will declare a victory statement on the terror we are telling the civilians to come back to our friends it's safe now. within hours celebrations in the city center. for the syrians and the turks. believe this is a gift from the turkish armed forces to the turkish

well we have correspondents covering events in both moscow and crimea let's go across to moscow first where lawrence joins us now along with some feels more of a coronation and then a presidential election really but the important thing for the kremlin is the numbers the turnout how is it looking on that score. yes that's right say the senate is very important we'll explain why in a second but it's just off a seven has only two hours to go before the polls close in the far west who's going to win we can we can barely contain our excitement let's toss in a katherine a showman who's a little scientists will just be austin about the importance of turnout to katrina why does that matter so much for the kremlin exactly because the results of the elections are so predictable the only parameter which is more or less dependent on the actual voters behavior is the turnout that's why it has become so important and the second two reason is dead during the previous election cycle during the previous federal level election in the autumn of two thousand and sixty and political machine and karl ente

it's the same story with foreign mobile phones crossing into crimea means losing signal. but beyond the sanctions what else has changed for people in sebastopol it's not an easy question to answer talking to people in crimea you soon realize that many who don't agree with the government line think twice before discussing politics and with good reason questioning the legitimacy of russia's control the region public carriage and up to five years my life became a lot easier than you and i live the same life i lived before not much has changed for me i feel right. she says meaning life has changed. and we have more certainty was. one thing you called listen sebastopol the upcoming presidential elections at every turn post says remind people of the future to vote. yes but i'm certain that no i just turned eighteen and voting for my first time and voting is a big deal for me. national your city i hope that my generation makes the right choice is the only one more in my opinion that's fighting near that a marriage to ten here is what's in it in this wonderful country there's no

you come from 11 to one every four years, which, in the last crimea was crimea. this is, that's why crimea matters a great deal. because if you will, it's the exception that proves the rule. it's such a rarity now. basically conquests has fallen off in terms of extent 96%, and it needs to stay that way. it needs to stay that way, and the way in which it stays that way is that the acquisition by russian of crimea cannot be recognized. the sanctions cannot be dropped. it is horrible for people of crimea, but it is really important for the health of the international system. because states cannot be conquered we see a proliferation of state pics after 1945 you have about 60 states. now there's roughly 193 193 st, and the reason is is that states can be small and weak. south sudan broke away from sudan, even though it makes it more vulnerable in one sense, but not vulnerable in another way. it doesn't really have to worry about being conquered and have its oil deposits taken because nobody will recognize that conquest. now, this is wonderful on one hand, weak states

the national spotlight is on crimea fresh from an appearance on russia's main t.v. channel we spoke to crime is deputy prime minister and he denied any dirty tricks of being used before but it upset the election is a completely free and democratic process therefore crimean people go to the polling stations and make the choice they want we think turnout will be quite high seumas what we saw the referendum because crimea and people don't see it as an obligation it's a celebration for us. as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year it's elects a really important to reach allan's how does it running. now the u.s. attorney general jeff sessions says five the f.b.i. his deputy director andrew mccabe less than two days before you could retire with full pension mccabe had been a frequent target of criticism from donald trump the u.s. president took to twitter to cheer the sacking saying andrew mccabe fired a great day for the hardworking men and women of the f.b.i. a great day for democracy sanctimonious james

ukraine or a challenge reports from crimea. crimea with its dramatic coastline has long held a romantic place in russian hearts and since it was an extreme ukraine four years ago it's russian once more. who says he took the decision to reclaim the peninsula held his last big campaign rally in the port of sevastopol on wednesday he thanked the crowd for voting in the two thousand and fourteen referendum which most countries never recognized and which so soured relations with the west. with your decision you showed the entire world the meaning of true democracy not the sham one he took part in the referendum and made a decision you voted for your future and the future of your children for your good to hear. crimean za voting again on sunday the first time they've ever done so in a russian presidential election and the peninsula has been made a central symbol in the putin campaign by the way a putin is reminding people that he is the gatherer of russian lands it's very hard for him to boast of any meaningful economic progress so d

i'll show you something now which puts the importance of crimea in this presidential election campaign in a bit of context is quite small so i have to explain what's going on here but this is a medal that all the voters here at this public station in sevastopol are being given for voting it's said sevastopol at the top and then underneath it has the date of the referendum in two thousand and fourteen in which crimea was officially reabsorbed into russia now that referendum was of course seen by many countries around the world as the thinnest of democratic veneers for what was essentially an illegal annexation but here in crimea it's seen as a legitimate expression of popular will and so on the back of this metal we have the more so with russia for ever now. the crimean referendum has never been officially made a part of putin's presidential campaign but essentially that's what it is he was here just a few days ago in sevastopol for a big event one of the last in the days before campaigning finished in which he thanked crimea ins for their choice four years ago and then the sea evening

efforts to persuade mososcow to pull out of crimea have yielded little to no progress. monday, the european union foreign-policy chief reiterated the bloc's stance. >> we do not recognize the annexation, the so-called elections there, and remain committed to implementing our nonrecognition policy, including through sanctions related to this. charlie: this visit to crimea is one piece of putin's strawman showing ahead of russia's presidential election, the first for cremeans since the 2014 referendum. during his visit, putin will hold a rally expected to be attended by thousands, allowing him to highlight one of his biggest victories to voters just ahead of sunday's vote. britain has called for an urgent meeting of the human security council to update members on the investigation into a nerve agent attack on the former russian spy and his daughter. the news coming through foreign office. prime minister theresa may said it is highly likely that russia was responsible for the attack , whorgey and yulia skripal remain in critical condition and hospital. it comes after a dea

rory chalons how does iran crimea. now persian has dismissed allegations by the u.k. that moscow was behind the chemical attack on a former double agent as nonsense russia has expelled twenty three russian diplomats in protest of the poisoning of said scrabble and his daughter and southern england last week russia has retaliated with some of the measures but insists it didn't possess the nerve agent used in the attack. we got a good look at the risk i learned about this tragedy about scripts how i learned about it from the media i think it's quite obvious that if it was a chemical weapon many people would die immediately it doesn't have any chemical weapons which destroyed all its chemical weapons under international observation and some of our international partners promised to do so but they haven't done it therefore we're open to cooperation with the investigation. we have plenty more ahead on the news hour including as the u.s. debates. and our higher score which has been quietly arming education for years we'll te

well the fact is there is a big geo political battle i said earlier that crimea and ukraine represent geo political victories for russia against a background of twenty years twenty five years in which the west and the americans in particular have wanted to have full spectrum dominance they know other words they've wanted to dominate all areas of military activity and to do so in a way that even a coalition of allies could not possibly threaten them and they've achieved that because the americans have because as we know american military spending is equivalent to the spending of the seven next countries added up together i think to understand the current environment we have to look at a document that was produced the national security strategy document produced on general the nineteenth of this year by the. by the american administration which changes the view of russia and china from the previous obama administration and says that russia and china are now strategic rivals obama has left open the possibility that there could be cooperation trump himself in spite of his occasional frien

well the fact is there is a big geopolitical battle i said earlier that crimea and ukraine represent geo political victories for russia against a background of twenty years twenty five years in which the west and the americans in particular have wanted to have full spectrum dominance they in other words they've wanted to dominate all areas of military activity and to do so in a way that even a coalition of allies could not possibly threaten them and they've achieved that because the americans have because as we know american military spending is equivalent to the spending of the seven next countries added up together i think to understand the current environment we have to look at a document that was produced the national security strategy document produced on general the nineteenth of this year by the. by the american administration which changes the view of russia and china from the previous obama administration and says that russia and china are now strategic rivals obama has left open the possibility that there could be cooperation trump himself in spite of his occasional friendl

make a visit to crimea and he didn't straighted that big success all russia when it accepted crimea russians to russian federation i think he is not contradicted was his own interest is before electorate. and that's why i conceded that. gray media it is be a card in the hand of putin where his army all this electoral is through rago that be watching today in russia because he is really face now as strong opposition leader good union square on the left side who is demanding from him change his internal economical social and political course inside russia and its he is the losing to group union in manuf elt now a key to compensate his losses inside policy. while his demonstrate in his loyal it is russia in crimea you know crane in strong position in the international level because of you you have brigade pretenders army of the united states ok in demonstrating the air there but unit is military but you need to surround syria. so i think that if there is a framework of the struggle put in is the gaining points for on the point of your. electoral interests all right matthew goodwin the u.s. amba

absolutely i mean crimea has a population a sizable population but it is a minority of. muslim tartar sauce and they have long been complaining about repressions disappearances and other harsh tactics being used by crime is new russia north or its east to keep them down and keep them from causing too many sort of separatist problems now they say in this election they are being coerced to come out and vote it doesn't really matter they say who they're expected to vote for but just to show that they're being a part of this presidential election system that that that in itself gives this thing legitimacy in the eyes of the kremlin will continue to follow the follow the voting process through the day with you and our correspondents across russia for the moment thank you. well still ahead here on al-jazeera moscow expels twenty three british diplomats the same number of russians the u.k. ordered house in a row over the poisoning of the former spy on the world health organization rules on a mass vaccination. program as a diptheria outbreak takes hold in yemen those stories aft

make a visit to crimea and he didn't straighted that big success all russia when it accepted crimea or russians to russian federation i think he is not contradicted to his his own interest is before an electorate. and that's why i conceded that. gray media it is being a cart in the hand of putin were his army all this electoral votes through rago that we're watching today in russia because he's really face now as strong opposition leader good union square on the left side who is demanding from him change his internal economical social and political course inside russia and it's he is the losing the group the union in menu fields and now a key to compensate his losses inside the policy. while he's demonstrating his loyal it to russia in crimea you know crane in strong position in the international level because of you you have brigade pretenders idea of the united states ok in demonstrating the air there but unit is military but you need to surround syria. so i think that if there is a framework of the struggle put in is the gaining points for on the point of your. electoral interests a

now crimea is a special case and the enthusiasm for putin isn't necessarily matched in russia's biggest cities but with his tight control of the media his suppression of political competition and his reputation as a strong leader it's an election he's almost certain to win. the u.n. says more than three hundred civilians have managed to leave rebel held east and in syria despite ongoing as strikes a syrian civil defense says russian planes dropped cluster bombs on residential areas in the city of africa air raids and shelling by government allied forces also targeted neighboring towns at least thirteen civilians were killed and dozens wounded. in while the turkish president. one says he hopes the northern syrian town of afrin it will be totally encircled by the end of the day the fighting there is displaced thousands and for those left water supplies have been cut as well as internet access alan fischer. on the attack in syria or dare. i slowly they're closing in on our friend these free syrian army fighters are no taking up positions on the edge of the city the next move could come at

make a visit to crimea and he didn't straighted that big success all russia when it accepted crimea russians to russian federation i think he is not contradicted was his own interest is before an electorate and that's why i conceded that. gray media it is be a card in the hand of putin were his army all this electoral votes the rago that we're watching today in russia because he's really face now as strong opposition leader good union square on the left side who is demanding from him change his internal economical social and political course inside russia and it's he is the losing the group the union in menu fields and now a key to compensate his losses inside policy. while he's demonstrating his loyal it is russia in crimea you know crane in strong position in the international level. of brigade pretenders idea of the united states ok in demonstrating the air there but unit is military but you need to surround syria. so i think that if there is a framework of the struggle put in is the gaining points for on the wind of your. electoral interests all right matthew goodwin the u.s. ambassador

there's no doubt that since the ukraine revolution since the sation of crimea or the reintegration of crimea and of course since the intervention in syria russia has started to fight back let's not forget that the americans under both of its in one thousand nine hundred two said that they wanted full spectrum dominance and russia has started to readdress to route to redress very slightly the geopolitical balance and i do believe that that is one of the aggravating factors but i also think that the aggravating factors in this russian history but i also think there's a very specific reason to this specific scriptural case which goes beyond the syrian and crimean cases and that is that britain has a particular need within the context of the brics it negotiations yes the reason may when she became prime minister said she wanted a full free trade agreement with the european union i believe that was a major strategic error on her part because it put her in the position of someone who wanted something from brussels because she wants something from brussels she has to give something in return

crimea voted for president putin and the quicker they get that bridge up relinquishing crimea with the motherland russia the better and i think the crimean people have voted with their feet for russia and more than once. just turning half past the hour here in moscow we are back with. i'm pissed my dream. probably. intended to be. a fairy no over the shock when i was three years old so it's a long story of shots for me the most difficult in the pursuit was when i did so my first bitch up for the post but ordered to only vote because i didn't see shot dead before so it was a fluke a miss which was only going to make my motivation was stronger off to the because i knew that i wanted to be there i didn't and continue to go to the most with. our career and just leave him there. to see. what i wanted to do with how do you know that you're helping the world be a bit better so i would say that that would mean to me one of the things that i was impressed with the most is how you get the editor from where we need to get to but . i wanted to know something more earth when i came on board it was

make a visit to crimea and he didn't straighted that big success all russia when it accepted crimea or russians to russian federation i think he is not contradicted to his his own interest is before an electorate. and that's why i conceded that. gray media it is be a card in the hand of putin were his army all this electoral votes the rago that we're watching today in russia because he is really a face now as strong opposition leader good union square on the left side who is demanding from him change his internal economical social and political course inside russia and it's he is the losing the group the union in manuf elt and now a key compensate his losses inside policy. while he's demonstrating his loyal it to russia in crimea you know grain in strong position in the international level because of you you have big rate pretenders idea of the united states ok in demonstrating the air there but unit is military but you need to send syria. so i think that if there is a framework of the struggle put in is the gaining points for on the point of your. electoral interests all right matthew

the national spotlight is on crimea fresh from an appearance on russia's main t.v. channel we spoke to crime is deputy prime minister and he denied any dirty tricks of being used before but it ups the election is a completely free and democratic process therefore crimean people go to the polling stations and make the choice they want we think turnout will be quite high since what we saw the referendum because crimea and people don't see it is not legation it's a celebration for us. as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year and select a really important to. like a world let's assume the uprooting with all the autocratic tools he has that is disposal is going to win this election and win it comfortably what does that actually mean well of course barring any kind of revolution what it means is six more years of putinism and from what we know of putinism he responds to what he views as as russia's vulnerabilities with aggressive behavior so we're likely to see more flashpoints emerging with the west the k

from ukraine well the challenge has more from service to hold the biggest city in crimea. for the kremlin for letting me putin it is the central achievement of his last term in office to have brought crimea back russian orthorexic it's a source of immense national pride for many russians and so therefore he plays very well for vladimir putin so yes there is this supposed coincidence that the election is being held on exactly the same day as crimea was brought back to russia four years ago voters here are being given this little medal and sebastopol when they when they have done their deed in the in the in the voting booth and it says the on the back with russia forever and it's got on the front a little memorial basically for the sixty the march two thousand and fourteen that's the date of the referendum four years ago and tonight we're going to get a big concert on red square and that concert is called russia sevastopol crimea so it kind of shows really exactly how these two events are being linked to the presidential election the crimean referendum the annexation of crim

crimea voted for president putin and the quicker they get the bridge up relinquishing crimea with russia the better and i think the crimean people have voted with their feet for russia and more than once. george got away because a commentator and full member of u.k. parliament thinks middle of the sun approach. the reaction to the russian taking a legend has been coming in from all around the world samir khan has the latest from washington d.c. . fortunately the white house has not repeated the rhetoric of most american politicians as well as western media on russia's presidential election which resulted in president putin winning a fourth term by a significant margin over seventy six percent and even though there was no congratulatory phone call from the white house spokesman did lee told reporters that the outcome came as no surprise i just as he was boarding air force one not only that but he commented somewhat positively on potentially developing relations with russia saying quote we will work to cultivate the relationship with russia and we will impose costs when russia threatens ou

liz palmer in crimea. thank you. a new study out today finds icaln who are physically fit may be 90% less likely to develop dementia. orth more on the link between a healthy body and a healthy mind, cbs news medical contributor dr. tara narula is here now. tara? >> reporter: hi, jeff, how are reu? >> jeff: good. >> reporter: so this is an interesting study. researchers looked at about 190 swedish women who are middle aged. they gave them a fitness test and tried to tell whether they had low, medium, or high levels of fitness. they then followed them for neout 40 years to see who developed dementia. and they found that those in the highest fitness level group on average developed dementia at a erte of about 5% compared to f abouin the lowest, who developed it at the rate of aout 32%. in addition, higher levels of fitness seemed to delay the onset of dementia. so instead of getting dementia at the age of 79 in the medium fitness group, you would develop it at the age of 90, 11 years later, if you were at the highest le

crimea was never ukrainian. the mistake was made by boris yeltsin when they didn't even consider the issue of crimea when they signed the agreements. because nobody even thought that crimea is ukrainian at that time. and hejust let it thought that crimea is ukrainian at that time. and he just let it go without any — without even putting — because he was so fast and hard to move these agreements forwards because he wanted to be the president of russia. he was the president of russia, but it was gorbachev who was the president of the soviet union. in order to push through the agreements and just destroy the soviet union. through the agreements and just destroy the soviet unionlj through the agreements and just destroy the soviet union. i want your view on selling top level in the united kingdom today. and that is the very mysterious illness, the critical honours, a rational double agent in hospital fibrous life alongside his daughter. sergei skripal was seen to be working for the uk, went to russia, then was s

crimea voted for president putin and the quicker they get that bridge up relinquishing crimea with its motherland russia the better and i think the crimean people have voted with their feet for russia and more than once. this year the vast majority of polling stations were equipped with web cameras streaming everything that happened that meant that anyone could be the observer if they wanted to write the code but at the top of that the most you know it's paid off as well the practice was first introduced to a ten to twelve presidential election and indeed this time it's helped to expose multiple electoral fraud cases in this focus just on this well. if you. like joining us here on r.t. international for our program today we are back in half an hour with more. seem wrong why don't we all just don't call. me old yet to shape out these days because i took it and it against me because betrayal. when so many find themselves worlds apart we choose to look for common ground. well you know the fires they were kind of adopted because we were called pirates for so long. i mean they're in this sm

how do the residents of crimea use their right to. crimea through the age. of forty five minutes on d w. on freedom and home. where i come from the region is rich in history and talent so much so poor and if you question the trinity and freedom this makes it especially difficult for them to come to drugs i see many of the younger promising journalists who are now making names for themselves all over the world. some might get along the way some might follow some with continued. experience of freedom in a sense is like the fenians of the day you can visit but you call come back home. my name is useless when i work and you know. everyone welcome to our highlights so with the best pics of the week i'm your host meghan lee here's a look at what we've gotten store for you today. ocean rider a swiss adventure sailing trip. so these dire the latest shoot trends.

crimea voted for president putin and the quicker they get the bridge up. crimea with russia the better and i think the crimean people have voted with their feet for russia more than once the reaction to the russian election has been coming in from all around the world samir khan has the latest from washington d.c. . fortunately the white house has not repeated the rhetoric of most american politicians as well as western media on russia's presidential election which resulted in president putin winning a fourth term by a significant margin over seventy six percent and even though there was no congratulatory phone call from the white house spokesman good lee told reporters that the outcome came as no surprise just as he was boarding air force one not only that but he commented somewhat positively on potentially developing relations with russia saying quote we will work to cultivate the relationship with russia and we will impose costs when russia threatens our interests but we also look for places to work together when it serves our interests now this is in s