For the fifth time

Sworn in: Putin to rule the Kremlin for another 6 years

The Kremlin leader at the inauguration ceremony

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/Sputnik/Sergei Bobylev)

Vladimir Putin has been sworn in for a fifth term as Russian President. This means that the 71-year-old can rule the country for a further six years. The ceremony in Moscow was boycotted by the USA and numerous European countries, including Austria, due to the war in Ukraine. However, Steven Seagal and the head of the "Night Wolves" were present.

Most of the ambassadors of the EU member states - including Germany - did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. The USA also did not send a representative to Putin's new inauguration. The official representative of the European Union in Moscow was also absent from the ceremony. Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell had previously spoken out against EU participation in the event. However, some countries - such as France, Hungary and Slovakia - wanted to send representatives in order to keep channels of communication open.

The swearing-in ceremony was, of course, attended by the entire ranks of Russia's Putin loyalists. In addition to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other members of the government, Moscow Patriarch Cyril was also present. The Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the nationalist biker club "Night Wolves", Alexander Saldostanov and the former film star Steven Seagal - a member of Putin's "United Russia" party - also congratulated the Russian ruler.

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West does not recognize election
Putin was re-elected in March, but the West does not recognize the election due to obvious manipulation. The 71-year-old, who has dominated politics in the country for 24 years, had himself certified a record result of more than 87% of the votes in the presidential election.

There was also criticism because not a single genuine opposition candidate was allowed to stand. In order to remain in power, Putin had the Russian constitution rewritten a few years ago. After his current term of office, which ends in 2030, the new constitution even allows him to be re-elected to office until 2036. Putin would then be 83 years old.

Shortly before the new inauguration, Ukraine called on the international community to no longer regard Putin as the legitimate head of state of Russia. "Ukraine sees no legal basis for his recognition as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation," it said in a statement from the foreign ministry in Kiev on Monday.

"Liar, thief and murderer"
The widow of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who died in custody, also called on his supporters to continue the fight against Putin. Yulia Navalny called Putin a "liar, thief and murderer" in a video message on the day of his inauguration for a new six-year term of office.