the, the, you're watching the news coming to live from berlin awarded for her bravery, juliet, nevada, the winds v w's freedom of speech award. she has become the face of russia's off physician following the death of her husband, alex and yvonne the earlier this year. also working and exiled why this journalist is still fighting for press freedom in her home country of bella. ruth, even though she's not able to live or work, they're also in our show. germany's far right. a half a div hardy in trouble. scandals has the alternative for germany as it launches it's european election campaign. the

clare richardson. welcome to begin with. i look at freedom of speech on this may the 3rd, the day the united nations has declared world press freedom day for its own freedom of speech, reward. d. w has chosen a reluctant champion, juliet, nevada, mia from russia. she's the widow of alexi and of all me who died earlier this year in an arctic prison. his death was seen by critics as orchestrated by the russian government. vanya shares the war, but the russian anti corruption or foundation, a group. her late husband founded ivonya continues to fight against pretends russia as the earlier this year. she cost to ballots in russia as presidential election at the embassy in berlin. an election went and the re, low position had long been dealt with by blinding me, boots and following the death of alexi in a valley in an optical pay no column. the opposition has been old,

but decimated in russia. and the error of parents is usually involved in the it's not her role. she's taken on by choice, but by necessity just 12 days after her husband's day, she address you lawmakers in stress, but which includes my husband. i look, see nobody on here. so there's, i think see, was tortured for 3 years. she was starved in the tar needs tone, so collado from the outside world and denied visits, phone calls, and then even the letters. and then they killed him. usually in a bone. the train does an economist, and with that, a bang before marrying alexa in about in the, in 2000 and invalid. mia was long a quiet supposed to of her husband's anti corruption. if it's,

she was as close as political advisor and by his side as he went to court on prison, numerous times when charges criminal critics say with from the top that price outgrew when of on the was points. and in 2020 was her husband was fighting for his life in a hospital inside bay area. she issued a public let's do a lot to me, puts in and let it pressure campaign to allow her husband to be floating, to gemini, for treatment. when alexa and i've only returned to russia in 2021, the police arrested him and detained eulley, and a volunteer separating the couple of goods. she long shunned the spotlights, but after her husband's harsh imprisonment and death, she vowed to continue the fight against the kremlin. vladimir putin has a new vocal critic, not afraid to make use of her freedom of speech. i spoke earlier to rome and gone

franco from the delphi whose russian service and he explained what this award could mean for uli and ivonya, and the russian opposition, as well as close as an acknowledgement of what this whole team is doing. first of all, her husband, tullocks and of all the whole was still a very ink sense and faith in central figure. and there are some opposition even being in prison a. so it's an acknowledgment, one of many, just a few weeks ago at the time magazine pull to the end of on the, on the list of the old 100 most influential people in the world. so she's proud of that. and they're also acknowledgments and the boards in other countries. so um, but, but 1st of all, of course it's in the board for her husband who died in prison. she believes he was killed directly or indirectly by the russian authorities by the russian regime as she says. so it's, it's very important, i think,

award for her and for the whole team, the whole team, the onto corruption foundation is um, making the, huddling headlines and on the russian position community again. now if they, if they are publishing now a serious of documentaries. um about the house allows you to put in the russian president came to paula and what's rolled, the russian leads plate in his rise. so they have millions of millions of views on youtube so that they have a very influential and everybody's talking about those films now. so millions of millions of use on youtube are those mostly coming from abroad or from inside rush . i guess what i'm asking is, does something like this penetrate russian society and this so how deeply are exactly that's important. so russia is becoming more and more close to size. and youtube is one of the very few um channels that you can, you can communicate with the russians directly from the west, from outside. um,

so i can tell about the dodge of other russian service. so we are blocked in rush. i'd like to, i still have that channel, the youtube and people that i should do, watch it more than half of us come from russia and of course, from the volunteer. and her team is also a very important channel to communicate with the russian society. because the oppression against the free press against the john list, people who engage continues, especially offices, are often versioning new grading pointing to institute just a few days ago. and there were reports from russia, that's a 2 journalist, were arrested on charges for working for the anti corruption foundation by alex and devali know, so they are now facing many years in prison. and this is something, it's everyone working in russia as a journalist, as mine. let's just speak briefly about. you've gotten a vanya as a figure, as you've mentioned, she's internationally influential picking up awards. but how much supports does she

have among russians? well that remains to be seen in the moment. it was just a few months since she said that she will continue his work. she's still searching for her role, but she has very one very important to us and it's a name and her voice. so she's a person that everybody in the western world and the end of all it's all we'll, we'll be hearing will be listening to. so she will try to communicate. she will try to be more open because when she was on the side of other exciting devali, she saw how he's working, but you stayed behind. now she's staying in front of everyone else. and she's the person that everybody's looking at are one. thank you. that is indeed all these roman culture and go that today may be world press freedom day, but around the world press freedom has been following that is, according to the organization, reporters without borders. there have been more attacks on journalists reporting on

elections. and there are a record number of countries where members of the media face extreme constraints on their work. the new world press freedom index has just been published by reporters without borders based on data compiled by the organization. the majority of the countries with the most difficult conditions for journalists are in the middle east and asia. europe remains the region where journalists enjoy the highest level of freedom overall. it's the only parts of the world where the situation for journalists is ranked as good in some countries. but even in europe, the picture is mixed in the east and southeast of the continent conditions have deteriorated. many countries of dropped in the rankings. 1000 includes batteries which is now overtaken, russia and turkey at the bottom of the index to become the worst ranked for press freedom in europe, or wants pick up on exactly that example dw itself is now banned in belarus,

after being classified as a terrorist organization by the government, but it's not just the w that's been targeted. many bella, russian journalists have also flooded the country. one of them is maria suffers cannot who is living an exile in birth then. and despite the situation, she continues to fight for press freedom and belarus. mother yes, of course the now is fighting for free. pressing hyundai defenders, she has not been able to live and work that for a long time. we didn't assess a free elections campaign. we didn't have major freedom. so we have time to time for political prisoners and it's the oldest was because we have a through political, the resume phillips on the single face. and brandon, she now produces empty version videos that cool out state of uses, published and averages tens of thousands of people in both of us with us set to

auto and home country. she was active as a john list and as a companion of human rights over time that required more and more courage. i have never found this kind of experience in my life. what able to experience that we've been so proud of, charles that we've been so grave and the perfect the child, the things got worse and 2020. there were protests of the allegedly wrecked election, critical down the swell rest that we've been sure that uh, at least some people from on what seems to be interested in case we will stay inside the country. and we decided to escape on sunday, 1st to ukraine than to poland. now she lives in berlin with a colleague onto i met hall and controls know about what's happening, talk about tax law and the press. freedom is one of my main issue for decades. yeah,

no, i roommates is freedom of the press in front of us is nonexistent. even in berlin, mother. yes, of course, you know, has to be careful and must package her content. stephanie, what i'm trying to do is to find the new ways to reach the young audience to rich people in the letters. we use content, but maybe not informant of news, but in form of political satire. for example, i lived here in germany in through land, but all my thoughts, my home, my family place as i like the in means. she has one request for europe in the us. don't forget that a rose independent journalist, a treatise like political prism. this a catherine of victoria, vice as

a spokesperson for reporters without borders here in berlin. she gave us her organizations assessment of the situation in bella, ru square. as we said, dw has recently been banned and classified and extremist organization by authorities are very sorry about that, but not surprised at all. because to silence independent journalist, the authorities have resorted to state sponsored terrorism, including censorship, violence mass arrest and claudia, and rates on homes and media offices. as well as for example, desponding, the association of better russian journalists. and i mean there are multiple examples. i could put out now for example, they even resorted to hijacking a passenger jets in may 2021 in order to arrest the positions on a list and force them to make like a confession on pop the television. and then when we recently learned that a d, w r, no band and bell arose. you know, we were just also feeling very sorry about the context you might have over there

because every journalist was from now on passing on information to the editorial team. it's now committing a crime on the fence because for you, i mean, for them you guys are an extremist organization. i really, it costs a light on the dangers that journalist face every day and trying to do their work. i wanna ask you also about another region in the world that has featured in your report. gaza, of course, is becoming increasingly dangerous place for journalists to do their work. can you tell us a little bit about what the conditions there are like? yes, i mean wars have always claimed the lives of many, many people including reporters, for example. now in the pulsing and territories are since april 2023 in saddam where a civil war has been raging. but in god media professionals, our particular would be at risk. no other war in the 21st century has started as dangerously for journalists as this one. and even in these circumstances,

there are still journalists on the ground who are reporting. however, their work is hampered by 7, were factors. the, you know, the numerous life threatening as strikes to constantly block telephone and internet connect since and of course the usual problems and few that come of living in the war and then the frequent power and internet outtake. it does make it super difficult for media professionals to actually make phone calls charged their phones or cameras or, you know, just drive and talk to sources. i'd like to take a look at the you now as well. we've mentioned fair that this report on a relatively high level of freedom within europe compared to some other parts of the world. but i'd like to ask where you see the freedom of press being threatened within e u member states. i mean, we know that we are immensely privilege. scenario regents. the only 9 states marked a screen good situation for press freedom. now what of illustrates the index of press freedom are on european continent, for example, like norway, denmark, sweden,

netherlands, and so on. and why the social cultural circumstances are simply better for journalists here in this area. and there is greater appreciation and respect, and there are less obstacles which are hindering us and our colleagues in our work . in addition, the legislative landscape is very much geared towards protecting the freedom of the press. but we also want to highlight that countries like germany or friends which do have a relative sort of situation, also encourages to also encounter some problems, you know, and we definitely have to fight to these problems. now just, just before i let you go, let's zoom out a little bit. reporters without borders publishes this report every year. and when you're looking at the most recent results, is it, would you say that the situation for journalists has worse and over the years? i mean we, i came from a generation very definitely hopes that the situation is getting better and that we

will see progress. but we now see that 75 percent of all countries definitely suffer from a problem metric to a pretty catastrophic cold situation. so yes, we see that the situation unfortunately is worsening. also, all human rights situations are versioning. re send a report from m as international, showing that and know we have to talk as a society about how to overcome these very dangerous developments. thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today. how does a catch you in a victoria vice from reporters without partners? we very much appreciate your time. thanks. 6 months ago, the far right alternative for germany, the a f d was riding high in the polls with support at 23 percent. says on the parties, fortunes have taken a downward turn following a series of revelations about links that to russian fine answers. and chinese spies, the scandals have hit the f d as it launches it's campaign for next month. european elections. it began with

this month pickup is thrown, an m p with the far right, told tenants for germany and allegations he had taken money from a russian only got trying to spread this information about the european union based on denies any wrong doing. and then it was maximilian trash turned in the spotlight to use the f. b 's lead candidates in the european elections. police arrest them. his long standing adviser on charges of spying for the china dev icons. filter election campaign is now being bed. do you have a shattered by this manta, this mazes? unfortunately, people are now talking about chandra, instead of europe, the weekly market in the markets on district of each cell in a place where the f d hope the populace should resonate with working class people could the latest allegations for the party gall alonzo city? yes, but on the other hand, every party has a skeletons in the closet. so whether you're towards them cut off,

i don't know it's, it's difficult to know what people are thinking and come to shown. people don't dare to talk openly about voting for the a f d. so that's vitamin the formal with these kind of fake news accusations, i would say a lot of it is open to interpretation and exaggerated. and up to tier. this is all fia bowers. and this keeps calling. it doesn't sit well with me. that's why the ac is not an alternative is not the latest nationwide page suggested that is a widely shared view. while the f, these bases solid more than 70 percent of gm. and cd wouldn't dream of voting for the party. could you imagine voting for the f

b using the sawgrass as night after the 90? not the me. yeah. the 1000 java on the ice. the system for the use from 933 to 45 of showing us that this is not good. and that's it. no question about it. it's a party that is not afraid. and that probably explains why the other parties are worried in the past. scandals have done like 2 to 10 if these popularity but as the european election campaign hall top difficult questions about the policies for links could block its path to success. let's take a look at some new polling numbers out from deutschland trend this morning. when it comes to vote or intention, the a f, the remains at 18 percent. that's no change from last month. but they have lost about 5 points since last september. and in terms of their potential support here in germany, f d appears that to come up against a hard ceiling. more than 70 percent of people surveyed said they would never

consider voting a se. let's get some more analysis now from our political correspondent, julia. so deli, julia, do you think the spying scandals and allegations of for an interference are hurting they after you select ability as well. we've heard some allison experts that these issues could have an impact on a if these a supports coming from voters or prospective voters. and we've seen also in the noise land tend of pull that among a if the supporters around one 3rd of them. also believe that the party should possibly reconsider its close ties to russia and to china. but of the poles looking at how much support the sd has in general, we've seen that the actually, the drop in support has come, not necessarily from this issue right here. but started before these scandals,

possible scandals came out and that had to do with an investigative research that was produced by a german investigative outlet quality, which came out with a report detailing of a meeting between some of the members and unknown members of the far right extreme is seen where. c the, this group of people discuss plans to the ports people out of germany, including silent seekers of foreigners with permission to stay in germany, but also german citizens. and now, after of the, the reports of these plans came out. hundreds of thousands of people in germany took to the streets to protest against the a if the to call for support of democracy. and this seems to also have influence on prospective voters of the a if the and sort of a turn them away from, of wanting to vote for the party. so let's take

a look at now also what appears to be clear concerns over the a f d as perceived closeness to russia and china. we have more polling for you here. 71 percent of those polled saying the sd should reassess its links to russia. and it is the same story with china, 70 percent expressing concern about beijing's pull the attend. excuse me, potential influence over a half day is really we know german prosecutors are looking into the after you. can you give us a sense of what is happening there? and how the ac is trying to contain the scandals with europe and elections coming up next month. looking at the 2 cases that we saw in the report of activity on con, and pick the best among the 2 candidates to the u. a parliament who have been involved in the recent scandals. we know that prosecutors are looking into whether they should open official investigations into the 2 cases. but if we look at the f b leadership, for example, you can tell that they see these issues could become

a bit of a hot potato for the party that they could run into trouble with some of their perspective. voters who may have taken a bit of a distance from the 2 candidates, for example, not showing up together at rallies and political events. but on the other hand, they have also suited by these 2 party members and the party leadership have said that they're not going to take any action against them until there has been approved and connection and that these scandals have been proven. so for now, they are considered innocent until proven guilty to have these political correspondent, julia sally, thank you very much. i, as president joe biden has said he doesn't want to deploy the national guard to us campuses where students have been protesting israel's war and calls the ends of resulting through mandatory and crisis fight inside of demonstrators have the right to peacefully protest, but not to cause chaos a cruise have been cleaning off at u. c. l 8 hours after police removed barricades

and began dismantling a pro palestinian camp in the early hours of thursday. officers arrested thousands of demonstrators in the pre dawn rate after protesters defied orders to leave. more than 2000 people has been arrested on university and college campuses across the united states. within the last 2 weeks, before the sun had even risen, police moved into ted down the barricade. stun grenades rang out and the smoke filled the as offices pools. the protests is back up to several 100 defied orders to leave the area. once through the defense is the police that was destroying the 10 students being come down to in today's and making arrests on the demonstrations watch record is a company called and told it offices for the slow response to an attack by pro israel counter protest as the night before

the for them to come out the next night to remove somebody, cameron, after they filled absolutely no obligation or duty protects. first night. it doesn't make any sense, but i'm not surprised to count, but the university of california is los angeles. kansas is just one of dozens that have sprung up across the us. students have been demanding that university said the financial times with companies linked to israel. and it's more efforts, the critics have accused the pro palestinian active is event medation and anti semitism. president biden has no wait in defending the right to a peaceful protest, but accusing to demonstrate is of causing chaos. we are not in the far terry nation where we silence people are squashed to say

american people are heard in fact peaceful protest isn't the best tradition of how americans respond to consequential issues. there's the right to protest but not the right to cause chaos. people have the right to get an education right to get a degree right to walk across campus safely without fear of being attacked. authorities say oh, that has now being restored. you see a ha, with over a 100 protesters, arrested. police remain stationed at the scene to stop anyone trying to come back to rebuild the encampment. so before we go, we can, we're bring you a reminder of our top story at this hour. you'll, you know vanya has one d w's freedom of speech award, along with the russian anti corruption foundation. an organization founded by her late husband alex, i know vonnie pneumonia became the face of russia's opposition following the death of her husband in

a russian penal colony earlier this year. so that is your news update coming up next to congress, president excuses apple of using blood to minerals from his country, searching for that. and thank you so much for watching the

books view. we'll tell you who we are happy that we are boxing the story. we have a getting a visa is more difficult than finding gold hosted to use that force and for the future in the stories and issues that are being discussed across the country. news african next on d. w, driven by agreed in the 2 thousands door to bag engaged in various tie risk business practice to reach somebody who's basically involved in every shady scandal

in the banking sector worldwide. race for ever hired process. and then the demise of a german institution. the deutscher bank story in 45 minutes on the w, the names cassandra re determined that hezbollah was operating like a global drug partner. the objective to financially drain has gone up and bring them down. the team agents from the american drug enforcement agency they had criminalized themselves. we needed to reveal that so world. why did the us government suddenly shut down project cassandra in 2016?

03 pod documentary series. i'm asking has paula starts may 4th on d, w. the, this is dw news advocate coming up on the programming code. some of the world's most popular smartphones have been made using blog minerals. the president of the democratic republic of congo, believe so. you can use as the tech giant apple of building it's flagship product using illegally acquired minerals in a trade which he alleges lawanda is facilitating. so why would you want to negotiate with a come and see who's doing business on the fax? it's dead congolese on your telephones. you have in your countries contain the blood of the concrete, get a phone because of a, you know, the content of a saw.