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Severodonetsk Under Heavy Fire; E.U. Meeting To Discuss Russian Oil Embargo; Erdogan To Talk With Russian And Ukrainian Residents. Aired 10- 10:45a ET
Aired May 30, 2022 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): This hour, a special meeting aims to mend cracks in European Union as member states struggled to
find common ground on Russian energy. Whilst.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The children have went through an extremely traumatic event, and is truly a moment of crisis with the potential lifetime of
impact.
ANDERSON: How a doctor treating the Uvalde survivors describes the long and difficult road ahead. And.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some chant death to Arabs. This is one extreme among the marchers.
ANDERSON: A disgrace is how Israel's foreign minister calls out extremist factions after violence breaks out on what is known as Jerusalem Day.
I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD live out of London for you today. Any moment now, Ukraine's president will virtually
address a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. This amid concerns E.U. unity on sanctions is starting to crumble. The biggest
obstacle to approving a sixth round of sanctions, Russia and all several nations almost exclusively dependent on that oil are strongly resisting a
ban.
Well, ahead of today's meeting, the European Commission president expressing hope the sanctions deadlock will be broken eventually. Take a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: The Commission and the French presidency have been working intensively in the last days to
move forward on this package. We are not there yet. But it has matured for sure. My expectations are know that it will be solved in the next 48 hours.
But I'm confident that thereafter there will be a possibility. overall, my call is very clearly to all member states. We have one key to success. And
this is solidarity with Ukraine and unity of the European Union.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the meeting in Brussels happening as the key Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk appears ready to fall under Russian control. It's a
strategic way station for Russia's efforts to move further into Ukrainian-- controlled portions of a Donbas. Well, an estimated 15,000 Ukrainians remain there. The fear shelling reminiscent of the siege of Mariupol.
Over the weekend, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops on the frontlines in Kharkiv, his first trip outside of Kyiv since the start of
the war. Well, let's interrogate what's going on here. Clare Sebastian joining me here in the London studio to speak to what is going on in
Brussels. Matthew Chance connecting us on all things on the ground today from Kyiv in Ukraine. I want to start, Clare, if I can, with you. The
European Commission president saying we are not there yet with regard Russian oil and sanctions.
What is going on and why is this significant?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A significant day, Becky, for the European Union. A significant challenge that they've had to overcome to put
it in perspective in the first six weeks of the war. The E.U. agreed on five different sanctions packages. It's now been two months since the --
almost two months since the fifth package. That speaks of the difficulty here. The problem is not everyone agrees because not everyone has the same
reliance on Russian energy.
The likes of Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic are all extremely reliant on Russian energy, because landlocked and reliant on pipeline oil.
So we have some of the nitty gritty from an E.U. official who is not authorized to speak on the record about closed door meetings. He says that
the aim is to reach a political agreement today that's coming out of the E.U. ambassador's meeting that happened earlier.
He says that pipeline oil will be exempted significant. That's about a third of the oil that the E.U. imports from Russia. The rest, of course, is
seaborne and he says that temporary exemptions have been granted to ensure security of supply for certain members. Hungary though, still oppose. Take
a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIKTOR ORBAN, PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY: First, we made the sanctions and then we started to think about the consequences and looking for solutions.
But because it's energy, it's risky. It's serious. So, therefore we have to change our approach. First solution then sanctions. Up to now, we haven't
got the solution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEBASTIAN: We haven't got the solutions, he says. But there is one solution that he's interested in. He says that the pipeline proposal that exemption
of pipeline though is good. Overall he said the proposal is not good.
[10:05:03]
ANDERSON: Interestingly today, a deal struck with the Russians by a European country which
hopes to become an E.U. member. I'm talking about Serbia here. Just explain what's going on.
SEBASTIAN: Yes. So, Serbia, its existing pipeline, oil deal with Russia was set to expire this week, it has now closed another three-year deal with
Russia. There was a conversation yesterday between President Putin and Prime Minister Vucic of Serbia, you know, Russia promising uninterrupted
supply. Serbia is saying that, you know, this is advantageous to them because it's extremely cheap.
Russian oil or gas in this case is much cheaper than competitors on the market. So, that is significant. But this is obviously Serbia, setting out
its store. It's clearly made a conscious decision not to align with the E.U., despite having been a candidate nation for the last decade. And
instead, like it has done throughout this conflict, not, you know, maintaining some degree of neutrality, not imposing sanctions, not
officially condemning Russia. This is perhaps partly an economic decision because it needs this oil, Becky, with gas.
ANDERSON: Clare Sebastian is with me in London, keeping an eye on what is going on in Brussels. Let's get to Matthew who is in Kyiv today, expecting
to hear once again from the Ukrainian president, who will be imploring the Europeans to do more at this point. What's going on on the ground, Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. Yes. I mean, you're right. I mean, he will be putting as much pressure as he can
on those European countries to take further action in terms of sanctions against Russia to try and inhibit it. And it's -- and it's warmachine from
grinding on. There are also additional calls from Ukrainian officials for more weapons, more long-range artillery systems, specifically, that they
want delivered from United States and others so they can beat back what is a slow but significant military advance on the part of Moscow's forces.
That advance, that fighting taking place in the east of the country in the Donbas, specifically, at the moment around a town called Severodonetsk.
It's in the Luhansk region which is the northern part of the Donbas -- the Donbas area. And it does seem that slowly but surely, the Russians are
increasing their control over that part of Ukraine. That would be a sort of incredibly important political victory for the Russians, because they've
said that they want -- that it's a priority for them to take control over that Donbas region.
And this city is really basically the last major city in the Luhansk region that would enable them to claim that kind of victory. It's also the
easternmost part of Ukraine that is still in the hands of Ukrainian government forces. So, it would be a significant loss for them. But the
battle isn't over because as that battle rages in the sort of northeast of the country, in the southeast, Ukrainian officials say that their military
has launched a counter offensive.
And he's making some progress in the south and southeast of the country trying to reclaim, recapture territory that has been already captured by
the Russians. And so, we are seeing, you know, a lot of fighting taking place. It is grinding, but there's a lot of ebb and flow as well, between
the two sides.
ANDERSON: Slow but significant advances by the Russians in the east understandable, that Ukrainian president leaning heavily into the -- into
the West, not just the Europeans, but into the West to provide increased support at this point. To both of you thank you very much indeed. The
withdrawal of Russian forces near Kyiv is gradually revealing more evidence of alleged war crimes.
And local residents are readily identifying some of the Russian troops they say aren't responsible. Our colleague Melissa Bell has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russian tanks entering the village of Lypivka in late February, now in charge here of life and of
death.
Six weeks later, now back in control of the village, Ukrainian authorities begin counting the dead.
I can't look says one mother. It was only after the tanks had withdrawn that Ukrainian prosecutors were able to start piecing together what had
happened. They now suspect these men of crimes in violation of the rules and customs of war.
RUSLAN KRAVCHENKO, REGIONAL PROSECUTOR, BUCHA (through translator): On this street, nine soldiers of the 64th brigade imprisoned unarmed civilians,
detained and tortured them 10 days, inflicting bodily harm and carried out mock executions.
[10:10:09]
BELL: We wanted to see for ourselves where some of the alleged crimes might have been committed. Going door to door with pictures of the soldiers we
meet Andre who recognizes one of them.
Is it locked?
He leads us down to a cellar where he says Russian soldiers tried to kill a group of men and women who had been hiding. They used grenades and rifles,
he says, but the civilians managed to survive by heading further into the darkness.
BELL (on camera): This is the scene of just one of the alleged crimes of the men of the 64th brigade. It is littered with cigarettes and bullet
casings.
BELL (voice over): Back in Lypivka, we show Mykolasnak (ph), a local resident, a picture of Commander Vasel Levinyenko (ph). He recognizes him
immediately and invites us into what's left of his home.
He and his family hid in the woods, he said, while his home was destroyed by the Russian artillery that killed his neighbor. When he tried to come
back, he says the commander seemed surprised. He said, what are you doing here? You should have been burnt alive. Mykola still doesn't know why he
decided to let him live.
IRYNA VENEDIKTOVA, UKRAINE PROSECUTOR GENERAL: Raping of people, torturing these people, for what? Because they want to scare civilians. Scare our
citizens of towns, religious leaders.
BELL: After withdrawing from the Bucha area, the brigade's men were promoted by Moscow.
The Kremlin denies any involvement in the mass killings.
The 64th brigade was created after the Georgian war according to Ukrainian intelligence. The soldiers of this brigade, he says, were noted for their
robberies and rapes, but instead of bringing order to the brigade, the Russian command armed, he explained with modern weapons and sent it into
Ukraine. Beyond working out exactly what the Russian soldiers who occupy this area north of Kyiv might have been responsible for, the big question
for Ukrainian prosecutors now is where they are.
MELISSA BELL, CNN, KYIV
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Turkey's president says he is back in diplomacy mode. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling the presidents of Russia and Ukraine to encourage
an open dialogue between them. Hopefully they will go better than his talks with Sweden and Finland. Mr. Erdogan talks recently with both countries on
their application to join NATO. He says they did not happen at what he calls the desired level.
Turkey has long accused him of harboring Kurdish terror groups. The issue will likely be taken up again at the NATO leaders summit at the end of
June. Well, a Russia ship filled with allegedly stolen grain has arrived in Syria. These satellite images show the freighter the port its second trip
in the last month. Ukraine accuses Russia of seizing more than 400,000 tons of grain from family farms.
Previous satellite photos show the grain being loaded onto three ships. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson out of London for
you. It's just before quarter past 3:00.
Coming up, saying goodbye to the innocent lives lost in Uvalde day in Texas as anger grows over the police response to the mass shootings at a school
there. Plus, tensions reached a boiling point during Jerusalem's controversial flag march over the weekend. Plenty of reaction on that is
coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:15:57]
ANDERSON: Funeral Services are starting today in Uvalde in Texas. Some of the 21 victims killed in last week's mass shooting. Visitation opens in a
few hours for Amerie Jo Garza. She and 19 of her fellow schoolmates were gunned down inside Robb Elementary School. Two teachers were also killed.
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde on Sunday to meet with grieving families and with first responders.
It was the second time in as many weeks he had to confront a broken community lost innocent lives to gun violence. Just a short time ago, Biden
told reporters he is motivated to pass gun control measures. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Folks who are victimized, the family, they spent three hours and 40 minutes. They waited all that time
and something two hours early and pain is palpable. And I think a lot of it is unnecessary. So, I'm going to continue to push and
we'll see how this works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: There is growing anger and outrage as we learn more details about the shooting. Children trapped inside the school called 911 several times.
But law enforcement waited nearly an hour before a tactical team moved in and shot the gunman. Well, now the U.S. Justice Department says it will
review the police response and this is significant. CNN senior legal affairs correspondent Paul Reid joining me now live. Why is the Department
of Justice taking this step?
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, not surprisingly, the city's mayor specifically requested that the justice come in -- Justice
Department come in and conduct this review. But at this point, the Justice Department is about the only agency that can come in and objectively and
most importantly, with credibility, analyze exactly what happened here. The Justice Department has many different functions.
But here where they're going to focus on is trying to figure out what went wrong and establish some best practices going forward. As we've seen law
enforcement officials in Texas, they have been under enormous scrutiny for how police responded to this incident and of these conflicting timelines
and the conflicting information that has come out in the wake of this attack.
No one statement, the Justice Department says that the goal of this review is to provide an independent account of the law enforcement actions and
responses that day into identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to what we know are going to be
inevitable future active shooter events. There's so much that we don't know about exactly what happened on that day. And this review is going to try to
get some more answers.
ANDERSON: To establish best practices going forward doesn't help the families who lost loved ones on this occasion certainly won't help those
who have lost loved ones in the past. They are outraged about what happened or didn't happen with regard the response. So, could this DOJ investigation
actually result in criminal charges? Is it clear at this point?
REID: It's a great question. Look, it's clear at this point. This is not a criminal investigation. This is just a review. This isn't even a civil
rights investigation, like what we've seen the Justice Department conduct into police departments in Chicago or Ferguson. This is just effectively an
after-action review. Now they've done similar ones into the police response to the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California in the Pulse
nightclub shooting.
And I looked at those and I think what we can expect from this review, they're going to go to the scene, they're going to gather evidence, they're
going to talk to witnesses, they're going to try to talk to first responders, talk to victims. Also talk to the community about what's the
relationship between police and the community. They're going to try to gather all of this evidence, do an analysis and put forward these best
practices.
As you noted, though, that may not be fully satisfactory to many of these families. If they find any evidence of criminal conduct that's certainly
something that they can pass off to prosecutors.
[10:20:08]
REID: But here in the U.S. the bar for charging law enforcement officials for things that they do in the course of their official duty is extremely
high. But as an attorney, I can tell you they will -- there will likely be lawsuits coming out of this incident and any attorney involved in those
will be very interested in the facts collected in this review.
ANDERSON: Paula, thank you. I want to bring in Adrienne Broaddus who is on the ground in Uvalde where as we reported funeral service are starting
today. Just describe the atmosphere there, if you will.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, behind us, you will see folks have gathered at this memorial. It's in the heart of the community. A
short distance away from the elementary school and there are 21 crosses behind me. Each cross holds the name of the victims. And before sunset,
people have shown up to this memorial to pay tribute. When we arrived early in the morning we saw a group kneeling down praying and there are photos of
some of the victims on each cross.
There is also a photo on one cross of Amerie Jo Garza. She was 10 and visitation is scheduled for her today. Her father told us his baby girl
died with the cell phone she received for her birthday about two weeks ago trying to call 911 in the obituary and there -- there's a photo that's
linked to her obituary and she's wearing this beautiful violet dress. Her family says they're sweet, sassy, funny, little diva hated dresses but she
still wore them.
She loved meals from Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. Specifically at Starbucks, she enjoyed vanilla bean frappuccinos. Her father says he wants to remember
his daughter, but he also wants accountability. Listen in.
ANDERSON: I'm not sure that we've --
BROADDUS: Oh, I'm sorry. It seems like we don't have that sound from her father. But I'll just continue talking about some of the victims. So we
were just telling you about Amerie and how she loves Starbucks. While she wasn't alone. Her classmate, Maite Rodriguez, who also has a visitation and
rosary plan for today. Also had a favorite drink from Starbucks. Her mother tells us her daughter love the color green and jalapenos.
And she said to her little girl was competitive especially in physical education. And she was ambitious. At the age of -- and when she was in
kindergarten, she already started talking about what she wanted to do when she became an adult. Her dream was to become a marine biologist. She loves
studying about animals and wildlife. Most recently, she was named a student on the honor roll.
I want to take you back to the scene here. If you see behind us, we talked about the crosses, and the flowers that are stacked so high, you can barely
see the names on some of them. Along with those crosses, there are candles and scented candles, most of them. You can smell the scent, which is almost
calming for this grieving community. Becky?
Adrienne Broaddus is on the ground for you. Thank you. Well, the university hospital in San Antonio is still treating three patients from this mass
shooting. The trauma surgeon at the hospital spoke to my colleague Brianna Keilar about the recovery process. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. RONALD STEWART, SENIOR TRAUMA SURGEON, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: Children have they went through an extremely traumatic event. It is truly a moment
of crisis with the potential lifetime of impact. And so we're -- we have a terrific team of surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, mental health
professionals, nurses, therapists who are working with them.
And everybody is making progress and doing better. They're heroes. These patients, these children, these families are incredibly strong and
resilient and working super hard to improve. So.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: You mentioned the long term impact here. I mean, you get them through this acute phase, which is it's amazing work
that you're doing. We've been speaking to your colleagues. It's truly -- I mean, we are in awe of the work you're doing but they do have this recovery
that will span their lifetime ahead of them, right? Can you tell us about that?
[10:25:10]
STEWART: Yes, I mean, it's for serious physical injury. So physical injury is oftentimes, particularly when life threatening is accompanied with
psychological injury too. So you have a physical and psychological trauma. And both those things really require healing and a treatment. And in really
early aggressive intervention, both from a surgical physical and emotional mental health thing are important.
And, you know, we need to know a lot more about these things. We actually need to -- we need to understand it better but we know the -- our teams
know the basics of how to minimize those long-term effects. And so we've got teams who are committed to working with them over the course of their
lifetime. Because, you know, oftentimes that's what it takes. Both from my a reconstructive -- from a surgical point of view and a psychosocial point
of view.
KEILAR: Can we talk -- can we talk, Doctor, about how the type of weapon use contributes to what you were discussing here about this long-term
impact? I know you also help treat victims, you and your colleagues helped treat victims of the Sutherland Springs Church shooting were 26 people were
killed. What do people need to know about the injuries that you are seeing from A.R.-style rifles versus say a handgun?
STEWART: Yes. I mean, so, these are high capacity magazine fed. That means it can be multiple rounds. It can be fired in rapid sequence with a high
velocity. And these high velocity wounds cause significant massive tissue destruction. And obviously when that impact is to a small body that's a lot
of energy and a lot of damage. And so, it has a extremely high lethality and the ability to create mass injuries, multiple injuries -- multiple
injuries to two people and multiple people injured within a very, very short timeframe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, just ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD.
Live to Jerusalem for reaction to what is the city's controversial flag March.
And Cuba is continuing to crack down on those who took part in protests last July, two big trials expected to start very soon. You're watching
CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Back after.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Picture narrow cobblestone streets sash became crowded with fear. Israeli police say more than 70,000 people turned out for Sunday's
Jerusalem Day flag marching through protests from Palestinians, tensions boiled, clashes erupted in scores of Palestinians were injured. CNN's Atika
Shubert brings us the story from Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jerusalem Day is a day that shows just how bitterly contested the city is for Israelis, particularly Jewish
nationalists. It has become a day to mark Israel's capturing of all the city including East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and the holiest site in
Judaism, the Western Wall. Thousands upon thousands converge on Jerusalem's old city marching through with Israeli flags.
Some chant death to Arabs, this is one extreme among the marchers. Others here say the day should be a celebration, not a provocation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of the people want to live in peace. And as you can see, we live in peace. I didn't come to provoke someone, you understand
that you didn't come for it and I'm not making problem I'm not shouting die to the Arab, and so the guy that wanted the Arabs to be dead. I told him
not because I don't want them to be dead. I want them to be my neighbors. But, you know, I don't want them to kill me the same -- the same time.
SHUBERT: But for Palestinians, this is a day of provocation. When the Israeli flag March goes through one of the most disputed areas of East
Jerusalem. And it's almost inevitable that tensions will boil over.
Thousands of police are deployed. The scuffles still break out in the narrow cobblestone streets. Police fire pepper spray and swing batons.
Palestinian residents say they feel angry, frustrated and exhausted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We cannot live, no peace at home, no peace in the shop, no peace in the street, no peace anywhere. Now a settler could come hit me
he will go and arrest me. Where is justice?
SHUBERT: In a sea of flags, there is one that cannot be slow. The Palestinian flag. Israeli police quickly tackle the elderly man who dared
to unfurl it.
As the march of flags went ahead Hamas warned it would fire rockets from Gaza. Watch the sky as the militant group warned. What came instead was a
small gesture of defiance instead of rockets. Keeping Jerusalem's uneasy peace for another day. Atika Schubert for CNN in Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: For the aftermath with live in Jerusalem with CNN Hadas Gold. And I note the headline in the Times of Israel today through Jerusalem's Muslim
quarter a triumphalist March by orthodox nationalist men and it goes on to suggest that for some this decades old anniversary or celebration Jerusalem
Day has morphed into something darker. Your perspective from there.
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. I mean, we're getting updated numbers that some 70,000 people participated in that March and you're right
that what is many Israelis see as something to celebrate when Israel gained control of East Jerusalem and Israeli see this as when Jerusalem became a
united capital. For many Palestinians they see it as a provocation because they want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
And they and much of the international community consider East Jerusalem to be occupied territory. But Becky, if you go to these marches, you do not
see the kind of average secular Israeli who you mostly see, or what many people consider right-wing Zionist or settlers even who come in from the
west bank or coming from other parts of Israel. You do not see either ultra orthodox people, nor do you see secular Israelis.
And that's what a lot of Israeli commentators are talking about that is -- that this March has morphed into the sort of magnet for the right-wing
extremist groups.
[10:35:01]
GOLD: I want to read to you some of the reactions from Israeli politicians. The prime minister said that what happened yesterday those events were from
a minority that had come to set the area ablaze. Yair Lapid, the foreign minister has sent out several tweets and statements. I'll read you one of
them. He talked about how -- sorry, I don't have the tweet in front of me. But he also condemned the action and said things that these groups, some of
these right-wing groups like Lehava and La-Familia, he said that they do not deserve to carry the Israeli flag.
Now, Lehave and La-Familia are these two extremist right-wing organizations. And they're sometimes identified in these marches with their
black flags. One of them La-Familia actually uses the flag from the Jerusalem Beitar Football Club. There are now growing calls to outlaw these
two groups. I want to play for you what the defense minister said just earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENNY GANTZ, ISRAEL DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): As defense minister, I also think the time has come to reexamine the designation of
organizations like La-Familia and Lehava as terror organizations. I know this issue is on the doorstep of the various security organizations. And I
rely on them to carry out the examination in the cleanest and best way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: Now labeling those organizations as terror organizations would outlaw them, which would mean it would be illegal to fly those flags and to be
part of those organizations now, whether these calls for outlying these organizations for labeling them as terrorist will actually come to action.
That will be the big question next year. Becky.
ANDERSON: Hadas Gold on the story. Thank you. Ahead of that march, the Israeli deputy economy minister Yair Golan told the public broadcaster that
the route was in his words, a wrong decision. The retired Israeli general turn lawmaker also says the March has become a nationalist demonstration.
I'll be talking to Yair Golan in the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD.
Well, let's get you bang up to date on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And the remains of 20 people on board. The Tara Air
flight in Nepal have been recovered. The director general of the Civil Aviation Authority says one other person is still missing and one body can
be seen but has not yet been recovered. Rescuers have been facing treacherous weather conditions at more than 4400 meters above sea level.
Northeastern Brazil is bracing for more heavy rain after at least 84 people there were killed in last week's flooding and landslides. Dozens remain
missing. President Yair Bolsonaro plans to visit the area in the coming hours. Brazil has been pounded by intense rain since late December.
Two of Cuba's most prominent anti-government activists are to be put on trial. Fellow opposition members say it could happen as soon as today.
Hundreds of demonstrators have been put on trial in recent months in Cuba and human rights groups say the proceedings have lacked transparency. CNN's
and Patrick Oppmann is in Havana, Patrick.
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA-BASED CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hi there, Becky. And these are the probably most high-profile trials that we've seen of
opposition activists in Cuba in many years. One of these men Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is well known artist. The other is a rapper goes by the
name of Osorbo who actually won two Latin Grammys while in prison last year. So far, there has been a total blackout in Cuba state-run press about
these trials.
We're only getting details from family members and fellow activists. And that is because of foreign media, international media is not being allowed
in to cover these trials. So, while we are learning about them, word of mouth, essentially and the artist Otero Alcantara. He faces seven years in
prison and the rapper Osorbo, he's facing 10 years. According the Cuban government, these two men are paid in "mercenaries" who are in the employee
of the United States to try and create chaos here.
But do you talk to virtually any human rights organization, international human rights organization, and they will say that these men are essentially
political prisoners that they are being jailed because they think differently than the Cuban state then, because they've tried to protest
over the years. They have tried to protest official censorship over here -- over the years. And the Cuban government has had to try to walk a very
careful line because in the past when they've tried to lock these men up, when they've detained them for brief amounts of time that has led to rare
protests.
Where artists and students go out to places like the Ministry of Culture here and have citizens and in demand these men's freedom and actually, one
of the men is said that the Cuban government is encouraged him to go into exile saying that if he does not go into exile that he will face some
serious jail time but that artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara saying that he will not leave and he's going to go on trial and certainly, he's likely
to go to jail.
And what we're seeing though is that the Cuban government is basically abandon this idea of -- that it can detain them and then let them go and
now they're coming down on them very, very hard -- we expect these men to face quick trials and very likely go to prison for many years, Becky.
ANDERSON: Oppmann in Havana. Thank you. We're taking a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, it was supposed to be an amazing day for fans of Liverpool and Real Madrid. But the final of the Champions League which of course is
Europe's premier footballing event for many was nothing of the kind. And there is now a lot of finger pointing from France who treated English fans
trying to attend the match with rather heavy hand. While Britain's Prime Minister has been demanding answers.
Christina Macfarlane joins us now with a closer look at what happened and what we understand to be happening next.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And Becky, we've been speaking to fans who were outside the stadium. The
accounts they have are deeply concerning. We're hearing reports that the French police indiscriminately tear gassed crowds that included families,
children, even disabled people. We're hearing that fans were prevented from entering the grounds, forced into bottlenecks because of the added checks
being laid out on Liverpool fans by the police.
And the French minister this morning, sports minister claiming that it wasn't that Liverpool fans fault for these fake tickets. As soon after that
though, they did issue a statement, the French interior minister actually saying that this case was due in part or largely due to fraud on an
industrial level -- on an industrial level. Some 30 to 40,000 fake tickets which were believed to be in circulation on the night.
Now that is facing some pushback from fans who are on the ground saying they didn't see any fake tickets. You know, there's now growing pressure on
EUFA to say well, if those fake tickets were circulating, why did you ever not step up and put checks in place before the fans reach the stadium? So
there is some contention over this. And as you mentioned now the British government of course calling for an inquiry into EUFA.
We'll be speaking to one of those fans coming up from World Sport.
ANDERSON: Good. That is World Sport after this short break with Christina. I'll be back after that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WORLD SPORT)
END
