Ruble were plunging in value as were numbers and life expectancies. Several former sel soviet members went their own way. Fast forward, Boris Yeltsin is dead, and yeltsine successor Vladimir Putin has reasserted russias place in the world. Russian president Vladimir Putin had a few surprises up his sleeve thursday as he announced the prisoner releases in his announcement. Most notable, mikhail khodorkovsky. He has spent ten year in jail. He was found guilty of tax invasion in 2015 and i am bes embezzlementment in 2010. Hes citing humanitarian reasons, his mother is ill. I think taking that into circumstances it is possible to make the relative decision. Reporter the russian president also announced a new amnesty bill which will free several political prisoners. Prisoners not involved in violent crimes, minors, women, small children and first time offenders. The bill will grant release of greenpeace activists involved in an arctic demonstration and members of the punk group pussy riot w
Samesex marriage. It was called unconstitutional. 17 states now allow samesex marriage. The United States is blocking iran from participating in a syria peace conference set for switzerland. They all decided on the syrian delegations and on the other countries who will attend the meeting. One of russias foremost critics is now spending the night in germany. Many believed he was imprisoned by trumped up charges. Inside story is next. After the chaos of the post selsoviet 90s, russia and president putin wants everyone to know that theyre pack. A resurgent russia is the inside story. Hello, im ray suarez. When the soviet union died russia was a mess. Its economy was a mess. The ruble were plunging in value as were numbers and life expectancies. Several former sel soviet membes went their own way. Fast forward, Boris Yeltsin is dead, and yeltsine successor Vladimir Putin has reasserted russias place in the world. Russian president Vladimir Putin had a few surprises up his sleeve thursday a
Some of the funniest movie moments of all time, we remember writerdirectoractor, harold ramus. Until just days ago, ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych ruled his country. But now hes on the run, a warrant out for his arrest. The parliament appointing the former speaker as interim president but russia, the closest ally to the country, has recalled its ambassador. Clearly uncertain whats next for the country. Jennifer glasse with more. Kiev got to work today, its streets filled with people. Not long ago, away from indians square, the capitol was like a ghost town. Last week i was afraid to go out of my house but now things are better. In the place where it all started three months ago where the deadly violence flared last week the biggest working day crowd so far this year. They came on their lunch hours, after work, or took the day off. Ukrainians have come here to Independence Square to pay their respects. The people say they will stay here until they have the government they want. We
The other. On this edition of our program were going to dig in to why all this matters for america. But we start on the ground in kievs independent square. For more than two weeks demonstrators have rallied against the government in the ukraines capitol kiev. In the middle of the night riot police moved into independent square. Were standing here, but were moving. Were moving forward step by step, were going forward. Everyone makes a big effort for our country, for our families, and the whole world is watching ukraine. In freezing conditions the police pushed and shoved their way in the square trying to remove barricades and tents. Protesters pushed back for hours chanting shame while those in occupied buildings dumped ice cold water on approaching police. Finally the authorities pulled back. The government claimed they only wanted to restore traffic downtown. Protesters are protesting against the decision of president yanukovychs decision last month not to sign trade agreements with e
Crimea continues. Russia asking crimea to vote to join its federation. Whether its about talks or sanctions, the russians are still very voping. The United Nations is asking venezuela for permission to send in independent observers. The occupation is using motorcycle gangs to break up demonstrations. Any escalation of conflict results in the Ukrainian Team leading. They have chosen not to send a delegation. Ecigarettes. Its a substitute nicotine deliver system. Ecigarette use by middle and High School Students more than doubled. Its increasing rapidly. Person massed armed men in camouflage uniforms stopped European Military observers from entering the country for the second straight day and russian ships called on ukraineenians to surrender. We need to secede. I dont want to live with fascists. The crimean Prime Minister told al jazeera there is no invasion. We accept the help people coming from trowz join our defense units. Terms of occupation or invasion, there is no russian army. Vo