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Trump Postpones New China Tariffs Until December; Two Ebola Treatments Show Promise in Congo Trials; Russians Train Troops in Central African Republic; Oligarch Close To Putin Behind Russian Mercenaries; Attorneys For Epstein Accusers Still Pushing For Justice. Aired 2 -3a ET

Aired August 14, 2019 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Thank you for joining us from around the, world I'm Rosemary Church and this is CNN NEWSROOM.

Coming up we are live from Hong Kong's international airport in Hong Kong where things are slowly getting back to normal after a day of violent protests.

Stranded at sea with nowhere to go, hundreds of migrants in limbo at the Mediterranean as European governments refuse to let their rescue ships dock.

Plus a CNN exclusive: we will take you inside the boot camp in the Central African Republic that is run by Russian mercenaries.

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CHURCH: Good to have you with us.

So pro-democracy protests have calmed down to Hong Kong's international airport.

Just hours ago it was a radically different story, police say they had to intervene after images like this, a crowd assaulting a man with his hands tied. Protesters detained people, accusing at least one of being an undercover police officer. With police moving in for the rescue, protesters had a new target. This officer found himself cornered and beaten with his back against the wall.

Well, CNN's Andrew Stevens joins us now live from Hong Kong's international airport.

Andrew, what's next for these protesters, given the violent clashes we all saw with police last night, between police and protesters?

And is the airport back to normal at this point?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR: The airport is rapidly getting back to normal, all the signs of the violence from last night has been erased now, it was obviously very busy this morning as the backlog of passengers cleared through immigration and got on their flight, so it's pretty much back to normal now.

There is a small contingent of protesters who are camped out and remained camped out last night, just outside the arrivals hall, but dwindling to a couple of dozen. There has been no move on social media by any of the organizers to try to get them back out today.

That is partly due to the fact that the airport has obtained an injunction which makes it illegal for anyone to obstruct the operations of this airport. So that is in force and the airport staff are also cracking down on access. Remember this was closed for two days in a row.

So passengers arriving here or anyone arriving has to show their travel documents as well. So peace and calm has returned to the airport after those violent scenes we saw, that we haven't really seen in Hong Kong, where these individuals were turned on by the actual protesters themselves, they said one was an undercover policeman.

But at one stage he was rendered unconscious but the protesters would not let paramedics through to look after him. They eventually relented but then it took a couple of hours for that person to be cleared by the protesters so they could get to an ambulance and the other one, the man who turned out to be a journalist for a state- backed newspaper in Beijing, who was savagely beaten, tied to a shopping trolley and the contents of his wallet were opened.

Those sorts of actions incurring the wrath of China today and, also, you know fairly shocking to Hong Kong as well, given the fact that we have seen a lot of violence but not at this sort of level. Pepper spray used once again last night and this was all going on, this sort of mobs attacking people while there were people actually coming to the airport to try to check in.

So we've been speaking to people today, terrified passengers, who are watching this and filming in and sending into their loved ones saying this is what is happening at the Hong Kong international airport, I'm safe. But this is the sort of scenes we have been confronted with.

CHURCH: Yes, as you say images of those clashes showing people on both sides and a great amount of impatience from those stranded travelers, some yelling at protesters there.

How much sympathy and support remains for the Hong Kong protesters now?

STEVENS: Tempers were getting frayed yesterday, there was protesters, several rows deep, which were stopping anyone from getting through the departure gates and we watched --

[02:05:00]

STEVENS: -- as very frustrated travelers try to get through those protesters and eventually gave up and turned back. So there was certainly a lot of angry travelers who are trying to get to their final destination.

Remember this is the second day that many of them had been delayed and had to find a place to sleep. So as far as travel is concerned, there was a degree of frustration, having said that, we mainly spoke to particularly some of the younger travelers.

And they include some Hong Kong travelers and they did understand that the protests -- they knew enough that these protesters are fighting for their democratic freedoms in very broad terms so there was that level of support as well.

Whether what we have seen over the past 24 hours and indeed those violent clashes over the weekend, whether that undermines the broader public support for Hong Kong, we get a good indication most likely on Sunday with the organizers of the previous rallies that have attracted 1 million, 2 million people, once again calling for people to march peacefully on this Sunday.

So again if there is another big showing on Sunday, it will underline that this protest which is in its 11th week, still has a very strong foundation or support across the Hong Kong society -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, many thanks to Andrew Stevens, reporting from a much calmer international airport there in Hong Kong, appreciate that.

Hong Kong authorities have condemned the protesters seizing and attacking people at the airport. Demonstrators accused one of the men of being an undercover police officer, the man was ziptied to a luggage cart. Local reports say that protesters tried draping him with a T-shirt that read, "I love Hong Kong police."

But a Mainland China newspaper, the "Global Times," says he's actually their reporter.

For more I'm joined now by Fernando Cheung, he is a pro-democracy lawmaker on Hong Kong's legislative council and he was also at the airport and tried to stop protesters from attacking the man you just saw there.

Good to have you with us.

FERNANDO CHEUNG, HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Hi, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So the world witnessed these violent scenes from protesters and police last night at Hong Kong's international airport but it was this footage of demonstrators attacking a man that got a lot of attention. You were there trying to stop protesters from beating up this reporter from the "Global Times."

What happened exactly?

And why did they target him specifically?

CHEUNG: You see, just two evenings ago, the police infiltrated the protesters, they pretended to be protesters and they suddenly aroused some confrontation and ended up beating the protesters and arresting them.

That really caused a lot of paranoia among protesters, we don't know who is the true protesters and who could be police. So in the very tense atmosphere even at the airport when, you find other people were trying to take pictures of you, then the protester would become very sensitive and they would challenge whether anyone doing that could be a spy or police.

So I think that's what happened. Then violence escalated on both sides to the extent that a young female protester's eye was broken by the beanbag bullets from the police and there was a lot of casualties.

And we saw police firing tear gas canisters into a covered area of a train station. So all that has gone way out of bounds and what is civilized society such as Hong Kong would accept. Last night's reaction was much breeded (sic) by this police brutality that we have seen.

CHURCH: Of course we are seeing police brutality and your understanding, you obviously have a sympathy for these demonstrators.

But how does this violence help the protesters?

And how much sympathy and support do they still have in the wake of these exchanges?

Because it is a very delicate balancing act isn't it, if they override this and they are too violent and they lose support then there is a problem for them.

CHEUNG: That's very true. We don't condone and we don't agree to such --

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CHEUNG: -- violent behavior. This is not like what we have seen so far. The protest is about trying to seek protection from the extradition bill, which post personal threats to our safety and our liberty and it also challenges our rule of law.

So the behaviors that we saw last night was just the opposite of that. So I don't think the vast majority of the people would agree to what has happened and, even after last night situation, although we don't agree to that, the campaign or the movement itself is still very valid, the threats are still there.

CHURCH: Right, we do understand, of course, that the protesters have no plans to gather today and a lot of that is because certainly not at the airport because of the injunction there.

But what do they need to do going forward to ensure their democratic rights and freedoms but at the same time avoid violent confrontation with police and possible intervention from Mainland China if they push too aggressively?

CHEUNG: Yes, I think we need to communicate, we need to talk, we need to have a dialogue. The authority, Carrie Lam, representing the Hong Kong government, has failed to dialogue with anybody except for her own supporters.

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CHURCH: But she says there's no one to talk to. She says there's no leadership to reach out to, so you don't accept that.

Who should she be speaking with?

CHEUNG: Look, we as legislators have repeatedly asked to meet with her and she has repeatedly rejected our requests. She could meet with student bodies. She could hold town hall meetings with different communities. She can meet with religious leaders, education leaders. There's a whole lot of people that she can communicate with.

However, she has failed to do any of that.

CHURCH: Right, why do you think that is?

CHEUNG: Well, I think maybe her hands are tied. When asked if she has the authority to announce a complete withdrawal of the bill, she could not answer to that question, so perhaps the Communist regime has taken over.

And now the police --and sometimes the tribes (ph) have taken over. And we are very worried that perhaps more escalation of violence will happen and we might be spiraling down, rushing to a deep trouble, and we might be turning into a mainland city without the protection of the one country/two systems rule very soon.

CHURCH: The world is watching very closely so we should see what happens next, Fernando Cheung, thank you so much for speaking with us, we appreciate it.

Well, now to the trade dispute between the United States and China, Donald Trump says he will delay new tariffs on some Chinese made goods until December 15th, those goods include iPhones, toys and videogame consoles.

The announcement comes after both countries agreed to resume trade talks within two weeks, President Trump has repeatedly threatened to add more tariffs on Chinese goods, earlier he explained his change of heart.

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TRUMP: We're doing this for Christmas season just in case some of the tariffs would have an impact on U.S. customers but so far they've had virtually none. The only impact has been that we've collected almost $60 billion from China, compliments of China. But just in case they might have an impact on people, what we've done is we've delayed it.

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CHURCH: Earlier this month Mr. Trump had said a 10 percent tariff hike would kick in on September 1st but his administration recommended the delay after public feedback and a hearing process. Clare Sebastian has more now from New York.

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CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This certainly does relieve some of the pressure on American companies going into the holiday season. The U.S. trade representative saying instead of imposing tariffs on another $300 billion on Chinese goods on September 1st, they will delay some of those tariffs until December 15th.

And getting that three month delay are some of the most widely consumed imports including cellphones, laptops, clothes and shoes and toys. They also said some won't be tariffed at all for reasons of health, safety or national security. The announcement caused a sharp rally in the U.S. stock market. Apple shares rallied. The tech giant --

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SEBASTIAN: -- has become a poster child for this trade war because it is one of the most valuable U.S. companies and most of its products are made in China, as did toymakers Hasbro and Mattel.

News that the U.S. Treasury Secretary and trade representatives had spoken by phone with top Chinese trade negotiator and plans to talk again in two weeks, that also helps sentiment.

But that does not end the uncertainty. Tariffs on all kinds of products from food to agricultural products to watches and some clothes and shoes are still set to get hit with tariffs on September 1st.

For those who stand to benefit from this delay, this will not be a Christmas gift they get to keep, we have seen this before in this year and a half long trade war, tariffs are delayed, talks resume and then break down again. But for now this lifts some of the pressure on tech companies and retailers and it may mean prices for consumers don't go up so quickly.

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CHURCH: Clare Sebastian reporting there.

And coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, the U.N. calls it a race against time as it tries to help stranded migrants find a welcoming port.

And a cure for Ebola is on the horizon as the fight goes on to save people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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(MUSIC PLAYING) CHURCH: Seeking safe harbor, the United Nations is trying to help more than 500 stranded migrants find a port that will take them in. It is appealing to European governments for help. So far there have been plenty of arguments but not much in the way in the way of welcome. CNN's Simon Cullen has the latest.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay in the boat! Stay in the boat!

SIMON CULLEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another group of migrants rescued on the Mediterranean, the fourth in as many days for the Ocean Viking rescue ship.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are a humanitarian organization, OK? We are here to help you.

CULLEN (voice-over): In total 356 migrants are now on board. Doctors without Borders, which operates the ship, says almost a third are children, many traveling without a parent or guardian.

LUCA PIGOZZI, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: They are really, really exhausted and they need to have some rest.

CULLEN (voice-over): The Ocean Viking is now heading north towards Italian waters, even though it is already being told that it won't be able to dock. Another ship, Open Arms, is already there, sitting off the coast of the island of Lampedusa with 151 migrants --

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CULLEN: -- on board. Italy's interior minister, Matteo Salvini, is refusing entry for both ships posting a photo of himself on Twitter, saying that he is working to avoid the disembarkation of more than 500 migrants on board the two NGO ships.

"I will let you know how it will end. I don't give up," he added.

Salvini's anti-migration policy sets the scene for yet another standoff between the Italian government and the rescue ships operating on the Mediterranean. The ships' operators remain hopeful that Europe will stitch together an agreement to provide them a safe place to dock.

But Italy has shown no sign it is willing to budge unless other European countries are prepared to accept those coming by boat. So far, this time, there has been no such offers of help. The U.N. Refugee Agency is urging action, warning without a coordinated approach to search and rescue, more lives will be lost at sea -- Simon Cullen, CNN, London.

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CHURCH: Frederic Penard is the director of operations for SOS Mediterranee, a charity group operating one of the rescue ships and he joins me now from Masse in France. Thank you so much for being with us. So these two rescue boats have a

total of more than 500 people on board, stranded at sea waiting for safe harbor. Why do you think it is that no European nation wants any of these migrants and what does that signal to you?

FREDERIC PENARD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, SOS MEDITERRANEE: The issue to us it that -- the issue of managing migration is one issue of political - of political status (ph). It is clearly an issue but we are (inaudible) before that

The first issue at stake is saving lives at sea, and what we are doing, as in (ph) NGO ships (ph) (inaudible) and the open arms is rescuing people first, because you - the values imposed and the (inaudible) imposed that should rescue people at sea and then take them on a safe place, and then sort out the rest of the issues

CHURCH: Right, because it is frustrating, because there is nowhere now to take places those people, not at this particular point in time at least. So where are these migrants from? What circumstances are they fleeing? What conditions are they dealing with right now on these rescue boats?

PENARD: On the ocean Viking (ph), we have now 356 people, as you were reminded. These people who are recovered out of four embarkations (ph) in distress on four indifferent rescue operations. These embarkations (ph) are absolutely pieces of rubber lost in the high seas more than 40 50 60 miles out of the shores of Libya, for some of them drifting for more than two days. We recovered people which are extremely tired, which shows signs of torture in Libya.

And what they're all say as a testimony, once they have recovered a little bit on the ship is, is the horrors they have been living in Libya. Libya is a country at war. It's an active war at the moment and the people are fleeing that situation, where they are tortured, where they are extorted, and this is the situation they are fleeing. Yes.

CHURCH: Right and the United Nation Refugee Agency is urging E.U. nations to help these stranded migrants, but so far as we've said, no one has stepped up. So what do you do now?

What sort of pressure will this put on the migrants and, of course, your organization, because you don't know how many more days these rescue boats will sit out at sea waiting for some sort of decision to be made.

PENARD: We are working on the ocean Viking (ph), the ship has been prepared to face that kind of situations. We are trying to accommodate people as much as we can, given the circumstances, this is still a ship, this is still an emergency solution. It cannot last.

What we are confident while waiting in the international waters, because we have no other choice, other option, than waiting in the international waters - is that countries that are signing (inaudible) conventions (ph) and the (inaudible) conventions (ph) are fulfilling their duties, which is to support the captains that have been bringing assistance at sea. And their duty as countries, as state, is to open the port - the same (ph) port where (ph) to disembark people and just sort out all the other issues.

CHURCH: Right, of course it's a relentless job, isn't it? Because these waves of migrants keep coming. What is the solution here when you have so many migrants looking for a new home, but nobody wanting to take them in? How do you solve that problem, when many of these European countries say they just can't and won't make any more migrants.

PENARD: I wouldn't be qualify not as waves. I mean it's a couple of hundreds people leaving as through (ph) the dangerous journey of the central Mediterranean each year and - but it is an extremely deadly sea. I mean it's the deadliest sea in the world, and this is a place where we first need to assist (ph) people and prevent them from dying.

[02:25:00]

Then the long term solution is something that is absolutely pertaining to states and they need to find a solution together. But that solution cannot be found while at the same time you accept (inaudible) that people should be dying at sea. This is unacceptable and this is the first step. Do not accept that people die at sea, and then build up the right policies to avoid that system (ph) -- that is problematic.

CHURCH: We salute what your organization is doing and what many others are doing for the plight of so many people on these rubber boats, as you are plucking them off and giving them safe harbor, at least on your boat. But it is up to these countries now across Europe to play their role. Frederic Penard, thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate it.

PENARD: Thank you very much.

Well, famed opera singer Placido Domingo is facing sexual harassment allegations. Eight singers and a dancer all describe encounters beginning in the late 1980s.

In a statement, Domingo calls the allegations deeply troubling and inaccurate. He says he believes all his interactions were welcomed and consensual.

The Los Angeles Opera where Domingo is conductor and director is investigating. The San Francisco Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra have canceled appearances by Domingo.

Well, there is optimism about two new treatments for Ebola, they are proving so effective they are being offered to all patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak is the second deadliest ever, 1,800 people have died since last summer. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIAN LINDMEIER, SPOKESMAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: The preliminary results in 499 study participants indicated that those individuals receiving Regeneron or it may be 114 had a greater chance of survival compared to those participants with the other two.

These are great news of course. And this news will save lives and move us closer to finding an effective treatment for Ebola.

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Hong Kong's airport is recovering after violent clashes between protesters and police, why Mainland China is not actively intervening in just yet, that is ahead.

Plus Russia mercenaries on a mission in central Africa trailing out CNN group, our exclusive report later this hour.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone, I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we have been following this hour.

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Hong Kong's International Airport has resumed a normal schedule after a day of violent clashes, on Tuesday, protesters seized several people and clashed with police. The airport says it now has an injunction to keep anyone from trying to interfere with the facility, officials are checking boarding passes and passports at the entrance of the departure's hall.

Well, the relative calm is a stark contrast from Tuesday, when protesters violently clashed with police. Here's a look at some of the most striking moments from the day.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The riot police.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of the protesters are now saying the riot police have arrived. The riot police are now running towards the entrance of Hong Kong International Airport. These are remarkable scenes. There are passengers in this airport, yes, they're protesters, but there are people who are waiting to get on the flight.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: I mean, it's really an amazing split screen that we are looking at right now, what is happening where you are and the riot police on the outside, and then passengers, kind of, milling about the airport in the level below you. It's truly remarkable.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And I see them kicking somebody on the floor, it's just very, very ugly. Right now, I can see somebody thrown on the ground. And there are some protesters trying to protect this individual. These demonstrators say they are fighting for justice, they are fighting for a peaceful democratic future for their city, a former British colony, but the scenes we saw today, very ugly, and will not help them in the eyes of many Hong Kongers who view them with the extreme distrust.

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CHURCH: Scenes from Tuesday there, and after 10 weeks of protest, Beijing has only sent warnings to protesters, experts don't believe they'll intervene with troops anytime soon. A former U.S. ambassador to China says to reach a resolution, both sides will have to compromise.

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MAX BAUCUS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: There's got to be a meeting of the minds of both sides here, because if Beijing thinks that they can just jam a solution down the protesters' throats, that's not going to work and I think they know that, and they're trying to figure a way out.

Don't forget, China is very conservative. It's hard for China to deal with matters like this. They used to have it their own way, so this has been difficult for them. They're not nimble, they don't have a big diplomatic core, like the United States does, for example. This is tough for them.

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CHURCH: But Beijing is keeping a close eye on the situation in Hong Kong, so far, they have sent stern warnings, but after weeks of protests, patients may be wearing thin. CNN's Ben Wederman has our report.

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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ten weeks of protests, hundreds arrested, the key international airport overrun and paralyzed. Watching all of this unfold, Beijing is not amused. A spokesman for China's Hong Kong and Macau office, warned the protests have, in his words, began to show signs of terrorism.

The nationalist Chinese tabloid, the Global Times, published a video of the People's Armed Police, China's federal police, deploying in Shenzhen, right on the border with Hong Kong.

[02:35:10] Two weeks before the People's Liberation Army, Hong Kong garrison, posted a video online, showing troops, training to deal with rioters. And put out a statement stressing, it's determination and ability to protect Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Hong Kong's charmed status, part of China, but apart from China. At the end of the day, is at China's pleasure.

Under the territories garrison law, the Hong Kong government can request the intervention of the Chinese army in the event of natural disaster or civil disorder.

And civil disorder is in the air, with some anger focused on symbols of the Chinese State. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has a blunt warning.

CARRIE LAM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HONG KONG (through translator): Hong Kong society is not safe or stable. The rioters have pushed Hong Kong to the brink of no return.

WEDEMAN: Yet armed intervention by Beijing would shatter Hong Kong's international business-friendly image, can strike the death now to the one country, two systems arrangement. Pro-Beijing legislator Holden Chow, insists that doomsday scenario is at the moment, unlikely.

HOLDEN CHOW, PRO-BEIJING LEGISLATOR: I don't think the PLA will come in to deal with the situation because I trust the Hong Kong police and the Hong Kong NCR government has the ability to deal with the situation here.

WEDEMAN: Perhaps, but as protests carry on or intensify, and their impact is felt well beyond this tiny crowded territory, that could change. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Russia has called off the evacuation of a northern village where a suspected missile accident killed at least five people, and while the kremlin isn't shedding any light on what happened, it's boasting about winning the race to develop new nuclear weapons. Moscow Bureau Chief Nathan Hodge, has the latest.

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NATHAN HODGE, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: The mystery surrounding a deadly accident at a Russian military training range last week, deepen down Tuesday, after Russian authorities announced that a village not far from the trading range, would be evacuated.

The order was quickly rescinded. With authorities telling local residents that the Russian military had cancelled a planned military exercise and that there has been no need to evacuate. But news of the possible evacuation set off alarm bells both inside of Russia and out.

Last week, Russian authorities acknowledged that an explosion had taken place at the military training range and reports emerge of a spike in radiation on Thursday. That led to intense speculation about the cause of the accident which claimed the lives of five Russian nuclear scientists.

Speculation has centered around the possibility that this was a test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a new piece of weaponry that was announced last year by Russian president, Vladimir Putin. But the kremlin has not been forthcoming on the details about the circumstances surrounding the explosion, its cause, as well as what the possible consequences might be.

For many, the secrecy surrounding the incident has been, somewhat, reminiscent of the official evacuation organized by the soviets of the city of Pripyat, next to Chernobyl, following the atomic disaster there in 1986.

While the disaster and the accident of last week, is nothing on the scale of Chernobyl, it is nonetheless underscored the kremlin secrecy and its lack of transparency. Nathan Hodge, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Just ahead, a CNN exclusive, Vladimir Putin's private army, training soldiers to get access to diamonds in Central Africa.

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CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Russia (INAUDIBLE) straightforward bargain, they provide the weapons and the training, and in return, they get access to the country's natural resources. And in the process, hope to reassert themselves as a major player in this region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[02:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: We have more now of CNN's exclusive reporting on a secret private army, doing the bidding of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The kremlin's fears about our investigation became evident as a CNN crew was followed all the way to Africa. Here's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARD: This is boot camp, for recruits to a new army in the war-torn Central African Republic.

The troops are being taught in Russian. The weapons are Russian too. It's taken months to get access to this camp. Officially, this is a U.N.-approved training mission. But the Russian instructors won't talk to us or even be identified because they are not actually soldiers, they are mercenaries.

Sponsored by a Russian oligarch with close ties to the kremlin, they are the sharp end of an ambitious drive into Africa, stoking fears in Washington of Russian expansionism. Valery Zakharov is the man in charge here, a former military intelligence officer, he is now the security adviser to the Central African Republic's president.

VALERY ZAKHAROV, SECURITY ADVISOR TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT (through translator): Russia is returning to Africa, we were already present in many countries during the time of the Soviet Union, and Russia is coming back to the same position. We still have connections and we are trying to reestablish them.

WARD: That's not the only reason they're here. The Central African Republic is rich in natural resources, golds and diamonds, and the Russians want them. We are on our way to one of seven sites where a Russian company has been given exploration rights. One of the challenges of trying to nail down exactly what the Russians

are doing here is that once you get outside the capital, this is still a very dangerous and chaotic country. And just last year, three Russian journalists were actually ambushed and killed while working on a story about Russian mercenaries.

The drive is bruising and long, along rodded tracks to a tiny village of straw huts. And then, we have to cross a river, on this hand- pulled ferry. Local teenager, Rodriguez, agrees to show us where the Russians have been active. It's another bumpy ride through the bush. The last part of the journey is on foot. We asked the workers if they have seen any Russians. So, he's saying that earlier this year, there were a lot of Russians here looking for diamonds. Rodriguez says the Russians now employ hundreds of workers on artisanal mines like this, across the area. In the pit, a group of teenagers pan through the sand, in the search for a precious fragment. Whatever they find, they say must be handed over to the Russian's agent.

[02:45:18] WARD: So, it's interesting, these guys are saying that the Russians who visited this spot actually came from the training camp at Baringo that we visited. It's pretty clear they're doing more than just training troops here.

CNN has learned that the mining exploration rights have been given to a company called Lobaye Invest. Lobaye is part of a sprawling business empire owned by this man, Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has been sanctioned by the U.S. for meddling in the 2016 election.

And a CNN investigation based on hundreds of documents has established that Prigozhin's companies are also providing the mercenary muscle. He is believed to be the man behind Wagner, Russia's most notorious private military contractor.

On our return to town from the mines, we noticed we are being followed. We tried to approach, but the car drives off. We catch a glimpse of four white males. All but one hide their faces from our camera. There is no license plate.

Police later confirmed to us that they are Russians. Near our hotel, we spot the vehicle again. We try to get closer, but the men drive off.

So, we're back at our hotel now. But a little bit shaken up because that car full of Russians have been following us for quite some time. We don't know why we don't know what they want.

Mindful of the murder of the journalists last year, we leave town the next day. But back in the capital, Bangui, Russia's growing influence is impossible to escape. On the streets, even on the airwaves.

Radio lingo sango features African music and lessons in Russian. No surprise, perhaps that it is funded by Prigozhin company, Lobaye Invest. The manager tells us the station wants to deepen cooperation between the two nations. And in a country where education and entertainment are in short supply, it seems that plenty of people are listening.

American officials say they are greatly concerned by Russia's actions here, and that they undermine security. But with the U.S. shrinking its footprint across Africa, and with minimal official Kremlin involvement, Putin has little to lose.

For Russia, this is a straight forward bargain. They provide the weapons in the Kremlin, and in return, they get access to the country's natural resources. And in the process, how to reassert themselves is a major player in this region.

It's a campaign for hearts and minds and hard power. And Russia is moving quickly to get a step ahead of its rivals. Clarissa Ward, CNN, the Central African Republic.

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CHURCH: And CNN has tried repeatedly to get a comment from Yevgeny Prigozhin through his company, Concorde Catering. But our requests have gone unanswered. Prigozhin strongly denies any links to Wagner. The Russian government also denies links to any mercenary groups.

Well, for Jeffrey Epstein's accusers, it is another setback.

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SPENCER KUVIN, LITIGATION DIRECTOR, THE LAW OFFICES OF CRAIG GOLDENFARB, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: With his suicide -- apparent suicide, you know they've been robbed again of that chance to face their accusers in open court.

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CHURCH: Coming up, the next legal step on a scandal that began years ago. We're back in just a moment.

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[02:50:42] CHURCH: We are learning more about the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death. The accused sex trafficker was found dead of an apparent suicide in his jail cell in New York.

The U.S. attorney general, says there were serious irregularities at the facility, and has launched an investigation. The warden has temporarily been reassigned, and two of the staff have been suspended.

Guards on duty were responsible for checking on Epstein every 30 minutes. Checks that weren't made for hours. The New York Times reports the guards falsified records and were actually asleep for up to three hours, the night Epstein died.

Well, for Epstein's accusers, there is frustration they can't confront him in court. But as Randi Kaye reports, their attorneys are still pushing for justice from his co-conspirators. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VIRGINIA ROBERTS GIUFFRE, ACCUSER OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN: It ended with sexual abuse and intercourse. And then, a pat on the back. You've done a really good job. Like -- you know, thank you very much and here's $200.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Virginia Giuffre, was just 16 when she says she was recruited to give Jeffrey Epstein erotic massages. Now, Giuffre-fears Epstein secrets died with him.

Through her attorney, Giuffre shared with CNN her frustration that Epstein will never answer for his conduct. "We've worked so hard to get here, and he stole that from us, too."

Her lawyer, David Boies, represents at least eight clients. He says all of them hoped Epstein's trial would provide vindication and closure. But Epstein's death has enabled him to escape having to confront his victims in court.

Before he was investigated for child sexual abuse and trafficking underage women, Epstein was a hedge fund manager. The multi- millionaire worked on Wall Street for years at Bear Stearns before opening his own investment firm.

Back in 2006, the FBI began investigating his alleged activities with young girls, who today are in their 20s and 30s. Some spoke to the Miami Herald.

COURTNEY WILD, ACCUSER TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN: And he would want us to stand next to him and he would masturbate while he stared at us, touched us.

GIUFFRE: All Jeffrey cared about was, "Go find me more girls." His appetite was insatiable.

KAYE: Dozens of them all with similar stories of sexual abuse. Even down to the details of what Epstein's genitals look like.

Here at Epstein's Palm Beach home is where much of the alleged abuse took place. According to court documents, as far back as 2001, it's believed Epstein began luring underage girls here with the help of those who worked for him.

Most of the girls ranged in age from 13 to 16 and came from disadvantaged homes. They never before seen the exclusive Palm Beach Island.

GIUFFRE: The training started immediately. Everything down to how to be quiet, be subservient, give Jeffrey what he wants, and you know, before you know it, I'm being lent out to politicians and to academics.

Years later, in a 2014 court document, one of the women claimed she had been an underage sex slave to Epstein. Claiming he forced her to have sex with some of his powerful friends. Including Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

Once at an orgy on Epstein's Island. She would have been 17 at the time. Buckingham Palace has strongly denied the accusations. Florida Attorney Spencer Kuvin represents one of Epstein's victims, who has not been identified publicly.

KUVIN: She went into the massage room and was convinced to give Mr. Epstein a nude massage. At the time that he was being given a massage by her, he reached out, and he would touch her and feel her in various areas of her body.

KAYE: What is your clients' reaction to Jeffrey Epstein's death?

KUVIN: I think there's a mixture of satisfaction that this person could never perpetrate a crime on a young lady again, knowing that he's gone forever. And secondarily, she's been robbed, I think of true justice. So, there's a level of frustration with his suicide -- apparent suicide.

You know they've been robbed again of that chance to face their accusers in open court.

KAYE: Court documents say Epstein often ran with the rich and powerful. Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and his two high-profile defense attorneys. Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz.

In 2002, New York magazine quoted Trump, saying this about Epstein. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."

That same woman who accused Prince Andrew also claimed in that court filing from 2014 that Epstein required her to have sexual relations with Dershowitz on numerous occasions while she was a minor, in Florida, and aboard his private plane.

Dershowitz denies all of it.

[02:55:40] ALAN DERSHOWITZ, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL: She said I had sex with her on Jeffrey Epstein's airplanes. The flight manifest will prove. Conclusively, I was never on any airplanes with her. I never met this woman. I never touched her. I was never massaged by her.

KAYE: More than a decade ago, federal investigators had identified, at least, 36 girls. And were still building their case when suddenly in 2008, Epstein made a sweetheart deal. That deal allowed him to plead guilty to a lesser charge.

He did have to register as a sex offender and serve 13 months in a County Jail, but it shut down the FBI's investigation. The deal also granted immunity to his co-conspirators. The deal was signed off on by then-U.S. attorney in Miami, Alexander Acosta, who then became President Donald Trump's secretary of labor.

ALEXANDER ACOSTA, FORMER UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF LABOR: We believe that we proceeded appropriately.

KAYE: Acosta resigned last month. Facing growing scrutiny of his handling of the Epstein deal. Still, if Epstein's original plea deal goes away in light of his death, his co-conspirators may be in trouble.

Does your clients still hope to gain justice from Epstein's co- conspirators?

KUVIN: All of the people that were involved should be held accountable for what occurred back then. Mr. Epstein could have never done what he did on the sheer volume that he did. And he perpetrated these crimes and taking these underage women, and abusing them in the way that he did without the people around him that allowed it to occur.

KAYE: He says his client also wants to know why Jeffrey Epstein, who sources said may have attempted suicide in jail already was no longer on suicide watch.

KUVIN: Someone failed. Someone failed astronomically when it comes to bringing this man to justice and allowing this to occur either he should have been on suicide watch, and this would have been prevented. Or alternatively, why would they ever make the decision to take him off suicide watch? Or finally, someone was paid intentionally to look the other way.

KAYE: So, you're not -- you're not sold on the fact that this was indeed a suicide?

KUVIN: Not yet. Not until a full investigation is undertaken. All of those jailers are interviewed, all of their bank accounts are looked at. You know, I would not be surprised if someone within that Jail has an offshore bank account somewhere that just got a lot larger.

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CHURCH: CNN's Randi Kaye reporting there. And next hour, we will explore another angle. We will look into Epstein's longtime associate, who's been accused of helping him entrap the young women.

And that is coming up on CNN NEWSROOM along with all the top stories from all around the world. We're back in just a moment. Do stay with us.

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