Putin takes office as Russia’s president for fourth time

Vladimir Putin has officially assumed office as Russia’s President, Constitutional Court Chairman Valery Zorkin announced after Putin accepted the presidential emblem and took the presidential oath in the St. Andrew Hall at the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The ceremony has begun at noon in the Grand Kremlin Palace. Putin will go to the Grand Kremlin Palace from Building No. 1 in the Kremlin where the official study of President of the Russian Federation is located.

By the time of his arrival, the invitees will have taken their places in the St Andrew’s hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace and the stand-bearers of the Kremlin’s silent drill platoon will bring into the hall the National Flag of Russia and the Standard of the Russian President [the double-headed eagle placed on a tricolor] and then the Emblem of the President and the Constitution, on which Putin will hold his hand while taking the oath.

The Chief Judge of the Constitution Court, Valery Zorkin, will place the Constitution and the Sign of the President on the rostrum where Putin will stand.

The Commandant of the Kremlin, Lt-Gen Sergei Khlebnikov, will meet Putin at the entrance of the Palace. He is to take part in the presidential inauguration ceremony for the fourth time. Upon taking his salute Putin will walk up the ceremonial staircase and will walk through the Halls of the Orders of St George and St Alexander of the Neva to the St Andrew’s Hall to the sounds of the welcoming march and presidential fanfares.

When he gets into the all, Chief Judge Zorkin will hand to him the insignia of the Presidential Power, including the Presidential Emblem [the Golden Cross of St George] that contains the double-headed eagle and ‘Virtue, Honesty and Glory’ slogan and is attached to a golden chain.

After that, Putin will pronounce the oath holding his right hand on the Constitution. The text reads: "I hereby take the oath to respect and safeguard the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to observe and to protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation, to defend the sovereignty, security and integrity of the state, and to serve the people in earnest in the course my tenure of the presidential office."

When Chief Judge Zorkin announces that the President-Elect has become President, Putin will make a brief speech.

After addressing the invitees in the Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin will walk into the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square through the Red Porch and will greet the servicemen of the Presidential Regiment who will be standing in formations. 

All the main visible elements of the inauguration ceremony are performed by the Presidential Regiment and the presidential orchestra. It is expected that dismounted and mounted formations likewise will take part in the marchpast on Cathedral Square on Monday.

The Kremlin is closed today for sightseeing tours and admittance there will be possible only upon special invitations. It is expected that several thousand guests will attend the inauguration formalities.

The lists of invitees feature the representatives of executive, legislative and judiciary branches of power, members of the government, members of both houses of Russian parliament, Presidential Administration officials, regional governors, recipients of the Order of the St Apostle Andrew, the holders of the Hero of Russia title, clerics from the main religious denominations, foreign ambassadors, business people, the military, scientists, cultural personalities, athletes, and journalists.

This is Putin’s fourth term as head of state. His first two terms lasted four years each. The head of state’s tenure was extended to six years after the Russian Constitution had been amended. Putin’s first six-year term began in 2012, while the second term of office will end on May 7, 2024. According to Article 81 of Russia’s Constitution, an individual cannot serve as president for more than two consecutive terms.

Putin first assumed office as Russia’s president in 2000, having served two terms until 2008 when Dmitry Medvedev was elected the nation’s head of state. In 2012, he again got the opportunity to run for the presidency. Putin was the first president whose tenure is six years.