Inauguration of the President of the Russian Federation
Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in at the Kremlin on May 7. This was the fifth inauguration in Putin's political career; he will hold the highest elected office for the next six years, until 2030.
At the beginning of the ceremony, President Putin placed his right hand on a copy of the Russian Constitution and took the oath. "As President of the Russian Federation, I pledge to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, to observe and protect the Constitution, to protect the sovereignty, independence, security and territorial integrity of the state, and to be loyal to the people," Putin said.
After the oath-taking, Chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin announced that Mr. Putin officially became President of Russia.
"First of all, I would like to thank all the people, including the people of the 'historic lands', who defended their right to remain in Russia. I also thank those who are fighting for the Motherland in the special military operation," Putin said in his speech.
The Kremlin leader affirmed that Russia has the right to decide its own destiny, the Russian people will overcome difficulties and become stronger.
"Territorial integrity, interests and safety of the people will always be the top priority," Mr. Putin stressed.
According to President Putin, Moscow is ready to build strong relations with any country that considers Russia a reliable partner. Mr. Putin is also open to dialogue with the West, but whether bilateral relations improve or not depends on practical actions.
To conclude the inauguration ceremony, President Putin attended a parade of the Presidential Regiment. The Presidential Regiment (Kremlin Regiment) is not only an honor guard, but also the only regiment tasked with ensuring the security of the Kremlin and the President of Russia.
Putin's inauguration this year used a special copy of the Constitution, which includes amendments adopted in 2020 and 2022. The 2022 amendments cover four newly annexed territories: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.
In early March this year, Mr. Putin was elected to his fifth term as President, winning 87.28% of the vote, with a record turnout. In his victory speech, the Kremlin leader affirmed that "no force has ever succeeded in putting pressure on Russia." In addition, President Putin also thanked the Russian people for their trust in him, pledging to solve the country's priority issues.
Putin became president in 2000 and was re-elected three more times in 2004, 2012 and 2018. In 2021, Putin signed a law allowing him to run for two more terms. In theory, this law allows Putin to run again in 2030.
