Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take the oath of office today, Tuesday, for his fifth term, while Washington has announced that it will not send any representative to attend the inauguration ceremony. In Moscow, Vladimir Putin, who was re-elected in March, will be sworn in as President of Russia for the fifth time, with the ceremony taking place at the "Kremlin" presidential residence.
Putin, 71, has previously taken the oath of office four times, in the years 2000, 2004, 2012, and 2018. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the inauguration ceremony today will proceed according to the established protocol, but with "certain differences," without revealing what they are.
According to the traditional scenario:
- The president will walk from his office to the Grand Kremlin Palace for the ceremony.
- He will pass through the Red Porch of the palace to the Cathedral Square.
- The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces will review the presidential regiment.
By the time he arrives at the palace, everything must be ready, with guests already present. Honor guards will then bring out the national flag of Russia, the flag of the President of the Russian Federation, the presidential seal, and a copy of the constitution on which Putin will place his hand during the oath-taking.
The guest list at the Kremlin includes representatives from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches: the Government of Russia, the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Presidential Administration, governors of federal entities, representatives of major religions, heads of diplomatic missions, and many public figures, as well as various journalists, among others.
In 2018, the inauguration ceremony took approximately 48 minutes, including the presidential regiment's review.
How did Putin engineer the longest tenure in Russia since Stalin?
- Vladimir Putin:
- Born in Leningrad in 1952.
- Graduated from the Law Faculty of Leningrad State University (now St. Petersburg).
- Graduated from the Foreign Intelligence Academy.
- Served in state security agencies, worked in the administration of St. Petersburg, and moved to Moscow in 1996.
- Putin served twice as Prime Minister of Russia (in the second half of 1999 and from 2008 to 2012).
The United States announced on Monday that it would not send any representative to attend the inauguration ceremony of Russian President Vladimir Putin taking the oath for his fifth term. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, "We will not have a representative at his inauguration." In response to a question about whether the U.S. boycott of the ceremony means it considers Putin an illegitimate president, Miller said, "We certainly did not view these elections as free and fair, but he is the President of Russia, and he will remain so."
