Putin sworn in for fourth term as Russian president

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia’s president for a fourth term on Monday, extending his almost two-decade rule by another six years at a time of high tension with his Western rivals.

The 65-year-old, in power since 1999, is on course to become the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin after his victory in March elections.

Putin won nearly 77 percent of the vote in polls in which his most vocal opponent, Alexei Navalny, was banned from running.

He has promised to use his fourth term to revitalise the economy. But he also faces a host of thorny international disputes.

“I consider it my duty and my life’s aim to do everything possible for Russia, for its present and for its future,” Putin said at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, with his hand on the Russian constitution.

US President Donald Trump congratulated the Kremlin strongman, with White House press secretary Sarah Sanders telling reporters in Washington that Trump “looks forward to a time when we can hopefully have a good relationship with Russia.

“However, the United States believes that everyone has a right to be heard and assemble peacefully,” she said.

Several thousand guests lined the red carpet in Moscow and filmed Putin on their smartphones as he arrived for the ceremony in the ornate Andreyev Hall, part of the Kremlin palace complex.

Among them were US action star Steven Seagal, who has taken Russian citizenship, as well as former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Naina Yeltsina, the widow of Putin’s late predecessor Boris Yeltsin.

Putin was driven to the inauguration in a black Russian-made limousine — a change from previous ceremonies when he used a German Mercedes.

“I feel strongly conscious of my colossal responsibility,” he said, thanking Russians for their “sincere support” and “cohesiveness”.

“We have revived pride in our fatherland,” Putin said. “As head of state I will do all I can to multiply the strength, prosperity and fame of Russia.”

Shortly after the ceremony, Putin asked parliament to back a new mandate for outgoing prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, his longtime ally.

– Crackdown on opposition –

Navalny on Monday reposted a 2017 video into the prime minister’s alleged wealth that led to nationwide protests last year.

On Saturday, nearly 1,600 protesters including Navalny were detained during nationwide rallies against Putin under the slogan “Not Our Tsar”.

The opposition figure, who was barred from challenging Putin in the March election, has been released pending a court hearing.

The unrest revived memories of 2012, when authorities cracked down on rallies against Putin’s return to the Kremlin after a stint as prime minister.