Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to be inaugurated at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin on Tuesday, marking the beginning of his record-breaking fifth term in office with expanded authority.
Putin, who has been at the helm of Russian politics since the early 2000s, secured another six-year mandate in March amid an electoral landscape devoid of serious opposition.
The inauguration will be televised live on major Russian channels, starting around midday (0900 GMT), as Putin arrives at Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace in a luxurious motorcade. He will proceed through the palace corridors to the opulent Saint Andrew Hall, where he will take the presidential oath and address the nation briefly.
High-ranking government officials and foreign diplomats, including French ambassador Pierre Levy, are expected to attend the ceremony. However, some European countries like Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic have declined to send representatives due to strained relations over the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin’s landslide victory in the presidential election, with 87 percent of the vote, was met with skepticism by international observers and criticism from opposition and human rights groups who alleged electoral irregularities.
The inauguration coincides with Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, which Putin has linked to his military actions in Ukraine, drawing parallels to Russia’s role in World War II.
Ahead of the ceremony and Victory Day celebrations, Moscow has implemented security measures, erecting barriers across the city center.
Putin begins his new term with confidence, buoyed by military successes in Ukraine and sustained economic growth despite Western sanctions. Domestically, he has overcome challenges from within his ranks, including a rebellion from paramilitary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and the imprisonment of political rival Alexei Navalny.
With this victory, Putin is poised to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in a century, surpassing even Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
However, challenges loom on the horizon. The conflict in Ukraine persists, and economic concerns remain as Russia pours resources into the war effort, leading to inflation and public discontent. There are also fears of further unpopular mobilizations in Putin’s new term.
Some analysts speculate that Putin may use the inauguration as an opportunity to reshape his government, as tradition dictates that the government resigns before a new presidential term begins.
