the, the, this is the, the news coming to you live from berlin. russians head to the polls to elect their next president with little doubt over the result. another term for vladimir putin as all the certain after silencing the opposition speaking out against the war and ukraine. also coming up from us says it will return some hostages and exchange for public opinion prisoners in its latest the spar proposal for gaza militant islam. his group tells mediators the 1st stage exchange could lead to a permanent ceasefire thing. the

hello, i'm terry martin. good to have you with us. russians are voting in a presidential election. that's all but sure to hand vladimir putin in another 6 year term. the election is set to last until sunday evening. the kremlin says a 112000000 people are eligible to vote, including residents of the occupied ukrainian territories frozen puts in his voice to secure his fists. herman, what's expected to be a landslide victory for? he stifled just yeah. but he does have a lot of more on the election. i'm joined now in the studio by my colleague roman going to rank of robin voting is underway now in russia. is there any excitement in russia surrounding the selection given that the outcome is pretty much a port on conclusion? upfront fees? yes and no, no, because well, everything is under putting control on the continent control. so there's no

opposition. opposition? leaders were either killed or hosted out of the country. people are afraid, boss. on the other hand, you know, they cite war changes everything. what i mean is unexpected things going to happen . and they do sometimes, you know, people may turn out and take part in that position and what, what the russian position is and asking them to do, actually to come at 12 o'clock on sunday. and to show sort of data today to show just legally that they oppose this war in your crime, that they oppose preteen. and how many will come no one knows. so small signs of protests, perhaps to be looking out for their well putting has over the years, systematically, a press, the opposition into almost non existence. so take a look of how that happened. the presidential candidates defend calls courtesy and all of slot ski o from kremlin friendly parties and barely known in russia. it hardly matches this

election is all about boots in this loan of used, right? but this is a vote for or against a political system as well. as a means of legitimizing the president's advice. after all, our political system relies on the president's reading and it is necessary to re up on the populations trusting the president. diamond again is beautiful in times of especially military operation. this drug should be on the rise, just a special military operation is what russians have to cool a full scale invasion of ukraine. those are locally coolants of will often end up in prison. the imprisonment isn't the worst that can happen. so the dissidents in russia, alexi know if i only died in this side period prison one months ago, until the very last moment, the criminal ins, most outspoken critic of russians to protest against the president. the valley was one of many opposition figures to be bought from running in elections. forrest and the judge didn't had hoped to the 5 person at this year's election. pedestrian had

a promising approval writing, bought the central election commission, bought him from the ballot. even with his rivals, dead in prison, opened from running 13 may still face a challenge on election day. and in this state, this damned that's even easier for thursday around the dream to hear from the actions of the on the for the. busy assist it's very important for, for the graham and for points him to demonstrate political leads that up. he is supported by us. majority of all right, so that's why the crown man truly voice daniel loves kim. those not to damage they damage. they put you on this whole, how to play supported by almost all russians, to damage this image or position figures having coverage people to come to the polling stations at noon this sunday, alexi, nevada, and these widow, julia explained the points of the section called noon against the boots in please

boys that we need to use election day to show that we exist and there are many of us. it's simple and safe, it cannot be prohibited. and it will help millions to see that there are like minded people that we are not alone. we have surrounded by those who share or stands against for corruption and lawlessness. nathan, nevada, on the know the opposition leaders inside and outside of russia hope to over throw polluted through this election. but they do hope that showing up on election day when in bold and even more russians to stand up to pigeons regime. so no one critical of the criminal understanding of the selection, the kremlin, controls the media, pretty much in russia. any serious opposition to present in protein is either in jail and exile or dead. what's left of democracy in russia? how is this a democratic election? well, no way, this is a democratic election,

and this is not the 1st on that the elections are held in russia under such circumstances. so some people say we shouldn't close elections. we should call. think of another time, maybe an electro monitor case, i'm sorry, so i'm say it's a an electrical event. so it's an event. anyway, so it's, it's, it has to do something with elections which could be true. so um, seriously, it is not an election as we see it as we understand it here in the west. it is not democratic, there is no position we know who will win, loved him important. but on the other hand, um it is, it is difficult to say that there is no opposition to put an inside. josh is just how to measure it. it is difficult for the and pulling institutions to measure how much it position is the inside. but um, as the, as a, as i've said, what changes, everything changes the more than the country war continues. russia has

a lot of casualties, but people are afraid to show what they really think of it. they are afraid to say that is why it is so important to watch what will happen on sunday at noon to this war and ukraine, which in russia you can't call it a war as a special military operation. people are aware of that, that is happening is in there many mothers who have lost their children or wives who have lost her husband is the, is the country, is there growing opposition to be a protein because of the war in, in ukraine? well, there are small signs of it, you know, just small green grass in, in, in spring. for example, there is this moment on those mothers and daughters whose husbands or sons are fighting in ukraine. they demanded they, they will be returned, so they are not demanding at the end of the war, but they want them to come back and their protests are becoming, at least at some points political. some of them are saying,

turn up at midday on sunday, show up your protest against that. your husband is the then i'm saying show up your protest against putting but they say come and show that you are against this will or you want to your husband story to on or your son. and this is very interesting. i think this is something that's very important is also afraid of. where does it go from here, we'll have the selection. vladimir putin will be re elected after that. and then what can we expect in terms of the, of the countries trajectory? will preteen feel emboldened as a result of that? well, i think he doesn't really care about the result for him. it is important to have a full control over the situation. and it seems like he has it. i think we're kinda expect more of the same. maybe more or not the last war because it's not even important has made it very clear. it wants this want to continue until he wins from and thank you very much. that was the w, as roman go to reco to stay

a quick look at a few other stories making headlines today. press present a model that com has reiterated his position that western power should not rule out sending ground troops to ukraine in a television interview and my call and said that was not on the table at the moment, but all options should be coming to open. european and nato allies have so far ruled out sending western troops to you correct that policy can full fire broke out of hate to use main prison in the capital portrait prints on thursday. eighty's capital seeking is seeing an uptick of violence after days of relative calm. a powerful gang boss has threatened political leaders planning to take part in a transitional council. the counselors being set up after prime minister earlier only agreed to step down germany reduced his greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent in 2023. that's according to the country's federal environment agency. this

was chief that says through a reduction of energy consumption and an increase in the production of a renewable power country is on track to meet its 2030 climate targets. how much has presented mediators and could tar with a ceasefire proposal for gossip. the 1st stage would see the release of women, children, elderly and sick hostages taken in a mazda is october 7th terror attack, and exchange for palestinian prisoners from us said a permanent ceasefire date. and a deadline for the withdrawal of israeli truce from the gaza strip. could be agreed after 1st stage. earlier i spoke with our correspond atanya cramer or in jerusalem. i asked her about israel's reaction to this proposed ceasefire by her months as well as right. i mean we heard last night from the is really media talking about this proposal. by him, us

a great at some cautious optimism. as you said, that these different stages we've heard about this before. as far as the elderly women children, and to some ill and some of the hostages that are it would be released in exchange for a certain number of public opinion prisoners hudden, it's very jails, but this, the sticking points of mazda saying they want to see a full and to the for a permanent ceasefire as well as those come garza and we are not sure whether it's rather has read it has been given a list of the surviving hostages. that was that you mazda, of late last night, there was a statement by the prime minister's office coming out shortly before midnight. a saying basically that's how most is continuing, holding on realistic. at the moment. however, we had the stuff that they had this proposal to be submitted to the board cabinet

and the quite a security coming at a later today. it's expected that that is a meeting. and there was also a meeting yesterday with the representatives of the families where prime minister benjamin netanyahu said afterwards that the pressure from katara and thomas is starting to work. but again, we've been at this point many times before, is it we have to wait and see what is happening next? how this come us proposal? tanya comes as is really government is facing growing criticism over the way of prosecuting the war and gaza. us senate majority leader, chuck schumer is taking the extraordinary step of calling for new elections and israel, his prime minister benyamin. that's not who likely to change his course, given this pressure ton well, this has been as seem to re, really as the sharpest criticism, yet of an american official. this is of course of to, of, lot of back and forth between the, by the ministration and a prime minister. been,

you mean legend, yahoo, a and mr schumer saying that need to know is actually part of the problem. and that was that here of the reactions here where really widely was to uh in the media. we said you could, that's a problem. instability munition, you almost partridge as saying that is relevant, independent and pro democracy with an elected a prime minister and not a banana republic as they put it. but again, i don't think it will reflect, you know, in the, in the change, of course, in that sense, it is a wide support for the board goes about what the seeing is, a drop in popularity, a dramatic drop. you have to say for a problem in a step in a sense of job. and that has been a government protest picking up in the past weeks, also reflected in opinion polls saying that most of these varies want to see an election rather sooner than later. now the us is traditionally regarded as israel's

strongest, most reliable backer. but given what we just heard from the senate majority leader, can we still say that's the case? but i think we've seen a lot of back and forth now between the 2 countries. it's leaders and that is, you know, a sense as a lot of frustration uh, from of the you as president joe biden here with a prime minister benjamin netanyahu. and the way that the war is uh, is uh, continuing of the humanitarian situation or the high desk, told them on civilians in a garza. but again, i think the, the concern here for is really is, is that, you know, you, the, you, as the main supporter here without us military aid, this war wouldn't continue like this. and they don't want to see further strain of their relations that they hope that the u. s. continues to support and stand by is

ro side by side telling you. thank you so much. as always, that was our correspondent tony kramer. in jerusalem, you watching dw news coming up next? got a document read for you with the look at the tool of asia to me called rick terry morris. thanks for watching the we are all set. we are watching close to the to bring you the story behind the new the will on about come by as information for free might say do 10 in the

the meat home is the longest river in south east asia.