Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

Putin Sworn in as Russian President for a Third Term, Nominates Medvedev as his Prime Minister

Putin sworn in as Russian president

MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) --

Vladimir Putin was sworn in Monday as Russian president, starting his third term in the Kremlin following the two consecutive terms from 2000 to 2008.

The 59-year-old political veteran, who served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012, won a resounding victory in the country's presidential election in March.

Putting his right hand on the Russian Constitution, Putin read out the text of the oath: "In performing my duties as the President of the Russian Federation, I pledge to respect and protect the rights and liberties of every citizen; to observe and protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation; to protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state and to serve the people faithfully."

He noted that Russia is entering a new stage of development, pledging to lead his country through that period.

"We will need to solve the tasks of a new level, different quality and scale. The coming years will be decisive for Russia's destiny for decades ahead," Putin said.

"Entering the office of president of the Russian Federation, I realize my full responsibility to my country. Its interests, security, the welfare of its citizens have always been and will always remain above all for me," Putin said.

"I will do my best to live up to the expectations of millions of our compatriots," he added.

The new president also spoke highly of former President Dmitry Medvedev, saying that he has guaranteed the continuity of Russia's development.

"Today we have everything for advancement, for construction - an effective and developing state, a solid economic and social base, an active and responsible civil society. I largely attribute this to the efforts of Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev," Putin said.

As he promised before the country's presidential election, Putin, after his inauguration, submitted a bill to the State Duma, or the lower house, nominating Dmitry Medvedev as the new prime minister.

Under the Constitution, immediately upon Putin's taking post of president, the Russian government resigned but still performed duties until the formation of a new one.

Currently, First Vice Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov is the acting head of the Russian government.

Putin's inauguration ceremony was held at the Kremlin at noon and was attended by some 3,000 senior officials as well as foreign guests.

Six Russian TV channels covered the inauguration ceremony.

 

Putin Returns to the Kremlin, Nominates Medvedev as his Prime Minister

France 24, By News Wires (text)

AFP -

Vladimir Putin began a historic third term as Russian president Monday in an opulent Kremlin ceremony shadowed by a second day of arrests of activists protesting his 12-year domination of Russia.

Putin, head of state from 2000-2008 and then prime minister, took over from outgoing president Dmitry Medvedev swearing to protect the rights of Russian citizens and also pledging a "new stage" in Russia's development.

The Kremlin bells echoed across Moscow and the presidential guard donned Tsarist-era uniforms for the brief but spectacular inauguration whose guests included old friends of Putin including Italian ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Placing his right hand on a copy of the constitution, Putin swore to "respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the people" and defend Russia's security as he officially took over from Medvedev for a six-year term.

Among his first acts as president was to propose Medvedev to parliament as his prime minister, in line with a job swap scheme first announced in September that incensed the opposition.

The eve of the ceremony saw the worst clashes yet between police and anti-Putin protestors when a mass opposition demonstration descended into chaos and security forces wielded their batons to arrest hundreds of people.

Police said 436 people were detained in Sunday's protest, including the anti-Putin leaders Alexei Navalny and Sergei Udaltsov. Ultra-left winger Udaltsov was released with a fine after a night in jail while Navalny was due to have his case heard later by a Moscow court.

On Monday, Moscow police had arrested another 120 people, including liberal opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, as protestors sought to hold unsanctioned rallies in defiance of a heavy riot police lockdown of the city.

Police said they would all be released after a warning but the arrests were in stark contrast to peaceful mass anti-Putin protests last winter which smashed the taboo against big opposition rallies.

Riot police in full "cosmonaut" gear -- so called because of their space-age helmets -- on Monday stalked the city at potential protest meeting points.

Activists accuse Putin of systematically sacrificing rights in the pursuit of stability and lacking legitimacy after his knockout March 4 election victory with 63.6 percent of the vote, which was marred by claims of fraud.

Putin said in a brief speech after his swearing-in that Russia was now "reborn" and vowed to take it to a "new stage" of development during his six-year Kremlin mandate.

"We will have to decide tasks of a new level, a new quality and scale. The coming years will be decisive for Russia's fate for decades to come," he said.

Committing to project a strong Russia in foreign policy, Putin said Moscow would be a "reliable, open, honest and predictable partner" but also "the centre of gravity for the entire Eurasia".

The inauguration was marked by needle-sharp choreography, with Putin driven from the government headquarters through eerily deserted Moscow streets blocked off by police and then into the Kremlin itself.

As well as Berlusconi, other notable guests included Putin's wife Lyudmila, who has been rarely seen in public in recent years, and the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

At the end of the ceremony Putin was seen kissing Lyudmila three times on the cheek and then exchanging inaudible words with her.

Minutes after the Kremlin ceremony, Medvedev passed Putin the black "nuclear suitcase" with the codes that control the country's vast nuclear arsenal, official images showed.

And only hours after taking office, Putin signed a raft of economy-related decrees and held his first meeting as new president, with Olympics chief Jacques Rogge on Russia's hosting of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Medvedev, expected to remain largely in the shadows after his four-year presidency failed to deliver promises of political and economic modernisation, moments ahead of Putin's swearing-in thanked his allies for their support.

"I thank you for the huge confidence you had in me, your help, your empathy," he said in an emotional speech. "Thank you for being together with me."

RUSSIA Protests as Putin sworn in as president for third term

RUSSIA Hundreds arrested amid clashes at anti-Putin rally

RUSSIA Low turnout for latest anti-Putin protest

Date created : 07/05/2012