- BBC.uk.co
Russia – President Vladimir Putin has been sworn for a record-breaking fifth term as Russia’s leader and will be on duty for 6 years.
In a lavish Tuesday ceremony at Andreyevsky Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin swore an oath of allegiance by placing his right hand on Russia’s constitution.
The ceremony, widely boycotted by Western diplomats following what election watchdogs called a sham vote in March marked the start of a new six-year presidential term.
“We are a united and great people and together we will overcome all obstacles, we will bring to life everything we have planned. Together we will be victorious,” Putin, 71, said in his inaugural speech.
VIVA Militer: Presiden Rusia, Vladimir Putin
- tass.com
The ceremony comes a day after Russia ordered a tactical nuclear weapons drills, citing “provocative” statements by Western countries supporting Ukraine.
Allied nations have provided extensive military support to Ukraine since Russia’s full scale invasion over two years ago.
“Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognizing him as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The three-day vote saw Putin claim 87 percent of the vote after facing no credible opposition candidates, as quoted from Time Magazine site.
Putin's most prominent opponent, Alexei Navalny, was found dead in an Arctic penal colony in February. His wife, exiled opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya, called Putin “a liar, a thief, and a murderer” in a video shared on the day of his swearing in.
“We believe that the isolation of Russia, and especially of its criminal leader, must be continued,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said, according to Reuters.
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were among the nations boycotting the ceremony.
“Participation in Putin’s inauguration is not acceptable for Lithuania. Our priority remains support for Ukraine and its people fighting against Russian aggression,” Landsbergis added.
