Two months after being re-elected in a vote that was largely regarded as neither free nor fair, Russian President Vladimir Putin took the oath of office for a fifth term on Tuesday in Moscow.
Several thousand people, including prominent Russian politicians and other high-ranking guests, witnessed the 71-year-old take the oath of office during a ceremony held in the Kremlin.
In the widely publicised presidential election held in March, Putin secured 87% of the vote despite extensive accusations of fraud, coercion, and anomalies.
His primary opponent was disqualified from the race, therefore he had no real competition.
During the inauguration, Putin was taken to the Grand Kremlin Palace in a Russian-manufactured Aurus limousine and then watched the Kremlin Regiment parade on Russian television during live coverage.
Putin said in a speech following the event that his reelection demonstrated that Russians trusted his judgement and approved of his actions, which included the invasion of Ukraine he started more than two years prior.
“Russia is not refusing dialogue with the West,” Putin declared, adding that the nation would make its own decisions everywhere, even in Ukraine.
“We will win,” he declared, expressing his certainty that Russia would overcome Ukraine.
Putin will make his candidature for prime minister known on Tuesday, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Though political analysts are waiting to see if 74-year-old Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be reappointed after 20 years in the role, current Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is anticipated to keep his job.
