Thousand nine hundred eighty nine. Well at the time of his killing had been investigating the corruption that is abroad and slovak ear and specifically links between leading politicians and an Italian Mafia group the murder has left other journalists like Susanna Petko over a friend and colleague of young coach jacques living in fear is they continue to probe the corruption that appears to go right to the top of this luxury apartment complex in bratislava is the product of a massive. Suzanna patika is one of the journalists who exposed it. This also happens to be the address of Prime Minister robert feed so. Peckover discovered that his government had helped the building contract to daunce millions of euros in taxes and penalties. But. They simply changed the laws so quickly that the Building Contractor could pay up the tax without any penalties. Which is just what he did. This is only one of many cases that reveal corruption at the highest levels. But its so widespread that the country has gotten used to it but he never said that he. Had covered keeps glancing around nervously the journalist researched this and other scandals together with her coworker john could see ak and he was shot dead in mid february by person still are no. Good here even so the reporter isnt afraid to talk to a neighbor at the complex. About what was the situation with a Building Permit for that of which they applied for it after the fact and it was approved thats just not right but this isnt only a problem with the current government when things like this happen theres a short period of outrage and then everythings back to business as usual and if you look since the murder of young could siac seen here at a journalism seminar in twenty seventeen things have started changing in slovakia on march the ninth tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the government and of rampant corruption in the country. Susanna pedicure also took the stage to demand a swift investigation of the murder of a friend and colleague and his fiance. These demonstrators seem convinced that the connections between political circles and organized crime that could sack helped expose are indeed real. Charmless over to the streets against the communists back in one. The nine now we need another fundamental change to bring the truth to light. I wish to share i will start to live most important thing is that the people of this country feel secure again i thought one dont have that feeling of security. Prime minister robert feed so is doing his part to spread fear at a press conference he called the journalists dirty prostitutes. It came as no surprise to susanna pet cover she worries that the politicians rhetoric could encourage someone to attack reporters once again. After younes murder we took safety precautions for Editorial Staff now the Research Team uses only encrypted Communication Channels to the man after he caught at them six of us we never send anything by email anymore. Instead we meet in safe places and keep each other up to date that way because the me that i could see that is. Just a few weeks earlier petka first car had mysteriously caught fire while she was driving she pulled over thinking at first it was a mechanical problem. But then she met with an informant in a shopping mall. After that the informer never contacted me again. At the time i didnt think much of it and didnt go to the police but now i think it was meant as a warning to me. Is determined to press on she feels she owes it to her friend and colleague john could siac and his fiance martina course not over the protests in commemoration of the two murder victims all across give her courage. To have. Those men after all after these murders im hoping things will finally change. The state has been stolen from us all of our. Institutions are corrupt and just. Functional c n n i v so wheres passports are really thats what led to these tragedies where we thought such things were no longer at unpassable and twenty eighteen that is missing also is enough for those caught up there to sort out some announced any losses that. They happened in a European Union member state susanna peck of i point out the murder of journalist dan could see i. Q. Is not just of concern to slovaks were talking all of europe. Well a fact finding delegation from the European Union parliament has visited bratislava one recommendation is that the e. U. Is Crime FightingAgency Europol should join the investigation into the killing of young and his partner. Now what kind of a country has russia become under Vladimir Putin as voters go to the polls in a president ial election they do so in a russia of stark contrast between the rich and the poor influential in the neglected and between the capital and the provinces in the third of a series of reports focus on europes euro chateau has visited two women with very different lifestyles one in moscow the other nearly one thousand eight hundred kilometers to the east in a suburb of the city of you catch every block. On the outskirts of the central russian city of catarina burg a house is in a state of extreme disrepair. The roof is in danger of collapsing on it to. The bathroom in the apartment above us part dont touch anything come down on our heads. Donny adar shows us what happens when the state turns a blind eye to poor housing conditions. Just look at this roof there is mold everywhere the building belonged to a state owned company that went out of business and no one has taken responsibility for the place. Were doing all the repairs ourselves no matter what falls apart even if the plumbing bursts well pool our money and look for someone in the area who can fix it the authorities arent lifting a finger. Nearly two thousand kilometers away the contrast couldnt be greater for the last few years the russian capital has been a showcase for billions of euros worth of investment in renovation anyone with a well paying job in moscow can enjoy a life of luxury. Maria who works in the Russian Parliament says she owes her success to president putins policies yes were going from president im grateful to the president that i have a job and that my parents are employed im proud of my country and its history. And thats why i fight president putin for helping russia reclaim a leading role on the world stage or in your. Back. Daria dar and her neighbors have a very different take on russias leadership they have since found out that their building was constructed illegally and has never been renovated. Now were really afraid. When our fans sleep i think to myself hopefully ill wake up on this floor and not in the neighbors apartment below. I wont vote for putin is just playing to his own people. Are all the time life is getting worse. They make all their decisions about us weve lost hope. But people like. In moscow hope things will stay the same business as usual suits her just fine. I hope that over the next six years the president will accomplish everything he set out to do maybe hell work hard the main thing is that he builds on the principles he laid out at the beginning a little diamonds but the bush. Is among the many winners in system. Anyone who has the means lives in a kind of comfort bubble and they dont hesitate to show off their lavish lifestyles on social media. The number of russian multimillionaires has risen sharply in the past year. And the Department Store at red square is the epicenter of their consumerism its proud display of opulent is the symbol of everything provincial life is not. Away from the glittering facade on the other side of russia theres not much interest in the vote. Citizens dont trust in the state to do anything on their behalf. Good. Deal jim bridges the authorities send us back and forth when ive tried to get an appointment with the mayor or the governor but no luck the. Little we see them with mothers grandmothers and children on t. V. All the time but we cant get a minute with that. In this country full of contradictions the only thing that seems to count in this election is the promise of stability and the fear that russia could turn backward on itself. Meanwhile the gap between rich and poor is growing steadily wider. Now heres a question does Russias Orthodox Church serve god alone or perhaps also the interests of blood a mere who suddenly the two sides appear to be moving ever closer together and adopting similar positions on things like family values human rights and even Foreign Policy and the relationship bring substantial benefits for the church such as it seems the transfer of the famous st isaacs cathedral in St Petersburg back into the hands of the church but as our reporter shows there is resistance. Saying isaacs cathedral may be famous but its also controversial officially it isnt a church its a state run museum but that could change soon St Petersburgs local administration plans to transfer control of the building to the russian Orthodox Church a decision that has made many people angry. Seven epic shocking night and eating a shaman have been protesting against the measure for over a year now theyre preparing to take to the streets of their hometown again even as poster reads the constitution separates church and state the two women feel the Orthodox Church has stopped respecting that. It enough but this is part of a larger phenomenon in Russian Society at the churches interfering more and more in everything in the army in schools in the government in local Parliament Everything thats in even though officially there is a separation of church and state here and i did in that because this is like a lot of the next cathedral is the final stronghold in the battle for our state because the constitution says we live in a secular country and thats what i wanted. To see who has become the color of this movement to protect St Petersburg skyline armed with balloons the protesters are fighting for their city despite the freezing temperatures there balloons reads the cathedral must remain a museum. Ahead of the Upcoming Elections and the other protesters want to show the government that the churches influence in russia has gone too far. The russian president on the other hand makes a point of showing his close proximity to the Orthodox Church its seen as a pillar of bloody near putins russia but the increasing influence of the church is divisive here. It all started with pussy riot a few years ago the punk bands protest against the lack of separation between church and state got the women sentenced to two years in a prison colony and insulting the feelings of believers became a criminal offense in russia. The allegation is becoming increasingly common a production of wagners opera time highs and of a c. B. S. Was labeled blasphemous and bound. In. The portrayal of an affair between tsar nicholas the second who was canonized by the russian Orthodox Church and a ballerina in the film matilda also caused a scandal the church itself sees its influence as historically justified after all die. In the soviet union religion was suppressed churches were destroyed or repurposed and priests were killed. In todays russia also talks christianity has become an important part of the National Identity and maybe to. The returns russia to its name a state that could not of my limbs we see getting. As a restoration like a story just as you wish to. Spread the wish to. The protesters outside st isaacs cathedral disagree they say this building belonged to the state and not the church even before the Russian Revolution that looks like it if we didnt you but you cant deal with surveys show that most St Petersburg first want the building to remain a museum i look like him but we want to protest to emphasize that our government is secular that no single religion is privileged in this country and that a state museum belongs to everyone here no matter what religion they are they would if you wasnt even there the atmosphere. The local government has so far refused to hold a referendum on the issue perhaps because it could provoke too much of a conflict ahead of this summers elections so for now the fate of St Petersburg is most important to get the droll remains up in the air at least until after polling day. Now a story from the italian French Border of people who are willing to risk hefty prison sentences and possibly war in order to save the lives of others im talking about volunteer rescuers who do what they can to help refugees trying to make their way from its only into friends across the mountainous border its a battle against snow and ice and often against the clock. We fairly sick or for terror if you hear a call for help from some refugees is coming in. There are four of them. That just crossing the border we need to hurry over misconduct about birth she always getting off the Alpine Rescue worker felipe sanity helps refugees at the french italian border together with two neighbors superficial refugees will be caught by the Border Police authority. Refugees often hide near the Mountain Pass that moshe may have. The helpers are bringing them warm clothing so they dont freeze to death nor easily they come from over them so i dont book you its a lot of what a lot of upon your own now a Border Police snowmobile talk about a lot of them i thought of them these volunteer rescuers risk up to five years in prison and fines of up to thirty thousand euros on a disk among the. Hostages at risk were willing to take when its on the course mr yates case these peoples lives are more important you could put the criticism. More and more refugees are taking trains from the south of italy to the countrys north from there they set out at night heading for the border. About fifteen migrants have arrived at the station of bottleneck for those who have already survived the horrors of the libyan refugee camps and the mediterranean crossing the danger zone Point Crossing is not a deterrent whats it to continue on foot which way are you going. Through that. Process weve had enough of it in the city that we cant get papers. Its thirty two kilometers to the Mountain Pass at eight hundred meters elevation theres a Border Patrol outpost where police have emperor red cameras the helpers find for refugees whove already. Crossed into france as usual other volunteer helpers are checking to see if the police are in the vicinity they tell felipes a neti the coast is clear. The volunteers will bring the freezing refugees to bring all song a town twenty kilometers from the border after two or three days theyll continue onward to somewhere else in france or to Northern Europe the volunteer helpers know that if theyre caught with refugees in their car they could face a prison sentence but for them helping people takes precedence none of the volunteers have been arrested yet although some have been interrogated at the Police Station so are the volunteers actually participating in Human Trafficking no no no of course not take money which is what traffickers deviates and were providing Emergency Assistance is so that people dont freeze to death youre able to kill youve got this youre. About two hundred residents of ground including some doctors are taking part in the effort and the mayor has made this Community Center available as a refuge he also pays for food meanwhile two thousand undocumented migrants have passed through here but of the other movie vietnam shop it out all step its an ethical imperative for us to take the men to give them a place to regain their strengths or fals. It with their well indeed a problem is related to their legal status or poor your the poor and sick leave. Thats not the first issue at hand we could have is a silk me doesnt buy me a toss it but i can still another Community Owned houses sheltering mamadou a migrant from mali remember. Filmmaker mariam show is helping him two years ago Mamadou Sakho plight sparked a wave of solidarity at just twenty six mama do lost both feet his friend who was then twenty four lost both hands because it happened when they tried to cross the nearby called. The shell pass which was closed so we do best get a lease you know it was good we were wearing sneakers it was night when we arrived at the mountain and looked really and we couldnt even see the role of the supers he will load the snow went up to our armed forces then we realized the tunnel was close to lower so we had to climb down the snow covered mountainside to make the crossing of it took all night mamadou had to leave his friend behind he went to get help and barely made it to the hospital clear limits and live in a mirror image the doctor came and said ok we have two of take your feet if you still see him i could hardly bear spotted or see them are committed to get him out afterwards trouble started this rescue initiative which operates around the clock so that no one else gets lost in a thicket they dont want mama do a story to repeat itself a little bit that all the volunteers feel helping is not a choice its an obligation theyll continue to risk arrest until france finds a way to ensure the safety of these refugees. And its shocking to hear that Mountain Guides in the italian alps of issued warnings that the bodies of migrants might be uncovered when the snow melts this spring. On a very very different boat everybody of course has a story to tell but not always somebody to listen to one man though is determined to do what he can to put that right seventy one year old kristoff bush a scriptwriter by trade has rented a former kiosk in an underground station in germanys northern port city of hamburg and set himself up as somebody who will lend his ear to pretty much anybody. Were at the immediate stross a subway station in hamburg. And. The platform has what looks like a regular kiosk but this one doesnt sell the usual newspapers and chocolates the man who staffs it up as an entirely different service. Through the morning so what can i buy here you can buy anything all you can do is be heard if you want to tell me a story im all ears even if its just a few sentences about this. The promise to listen arouses curiosity people are drawn to the unusual kiosk at the station. Who might be happy if you can buy it here is a number you can call two of them to say youre writing a book like this written it might turn into a book but first of all i just listen to the things people tell me a veggie called stories to tell here to. The seventy one year old is a script writer for television he rented this space as a writing studio. Near fourth grade imagine that i would sit here and write and occasionally someone would approach me and i would talk to them. But actually i dont do any writing anymore i just listen if not. Most people who speak to christophe bush dont want to be on camera some tell him episode from their childhood or the entire story of their lives theyre happy to find someone willing to just listen. To a dozen people dont normally spend a lot of time in a subway station which means that when someone does come theyre prepared to spend a bit of time. On top hello yes youre on the list. It helps you often talk to. This woman made an appointment by phone she wants to talk about her marriage to a man from senegal for stuff to. Considers whether this could make an interesting story i might. Not make my money at that point i migrated to senegal with my husband but we werent really agreed on it. I said lets do this i have so many ideas this is a poor country and they need good ideas here but it didnt work only nine months but i feel. Like if we came back that it was a great experience in total from all im always on the lookout for people i would normally get to meet who wouldnt come to my house for a party for example of the party or people who instill a sense of respect and maybe. Im a bit taken aback by what they say. But thats exciting about this quote. Hes wary of being treated as a stand in therapist or pastor nevertheless he hears more sad stories than happy ones. I tell myself sorrow is the flipside of happiness and if you are never unhappy then you dont know what happiness is most people who come here want to escape their sorrow but this is like a first step in that direction does. Some of these stories affect christophe push very deeply but he gladly accept what people have been trusted to him. Well thanks so very much for listening to and watching focus on europe this week if youd like to see any of todays reports again just go to our home page or d. W. Got com all visit us on facebook. Until next time its bye bye. Blogs move. Move move. Move. Move move. Move move move. Move. Move. Move. Move move. Move. Move move. Move. Move. Move the body comes. To. Move. My guess this week comes make soloists Alexandra Palace might follow close to promise her clocks chris for. The wrongs of the marxist comics. Launch in cold blood explore look last great guests. See the first strokes of the books. What does russias youth hold for colors freedom of expression syria. The Border Patrol travels through russia before the election. He needs the support and the ribs to support the president saddam hussein. And investigative journalists. As for our series this week on d w numerous. Freedom of expression. Of value that always has to be defended a new. All over the world arch of Freedom Freedom of art. A multimedia project about artists and their right to express their views freely. D w dot com order freedom. Some people dont care about me. Because they dont see my beauty. Some people dont care about me because they think i have nothing to give. But two billion people do. Too then i am everything. Their home. Their food. Their livelihood. But day by day i decide. And so does everything i keep. Two Million People who care about. Me. And now. Plane. This is v. W. News live from berlin escalating tension between russia and the u. K. The Russian Foreign ministry gets back at londons response to a chemical attack on an expiry on british soil we will ask the british m. P. About the Prime Minister to abuse a base decision to kick twenty three Russian Diplomats out of the country. Also coming up thousands of syrians to leave besieged eastern good ties Government Forces close in the battle for the rebel held on place has been one of the deadly