Russian dictator Putin inaugurated for another term as president / Article

The 71-year-old Putin has been in power in Russia since 2000, so in terms of the length of his reign, he has long surpassed the leader of the USSR, Leonid Brezhnev, and is behind only Joseph Stalin. Putin has been elected president for the fifth time and will continue to lead Russia for at least another six years. In Russia, a whole generation has already grown up with Putin, who have never experienced another head of state.

“The main thing is that all this cannot be perceived as a political procedure at all, even a formal one. Because people understand that Putin is going to rule indefinitely, as long as he can physically do something. No one is interested in how long the term is and how many have gathered for the inauguration,” concludes Kirill Martinov, editor-in-chief of the exiled newspaper “Novaya Gazeta Eiropa”.

With the start of Putin’s new term of office, the government led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has announced his resignation. In the coming days, the Russian parliament will approve the new government.

According to the independent media “Meduza”, Mishustin will likely retain the post of prime minister, however, changes are expected in the composition of the government. For example, recently there has been a lot of talk about the possible dismissal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, but Putin is ready to give him another chance.

In his inaugural speech, Putin said that the citizens of Russia “in the presidential election” had recognized the correctness of the course implemented by the government.

However, the majority of independent observers believe that these elections, in which Putin won with a record margin, were not free and fair.

Putin expressed special gratitude to the members of the “special military operation” that continues the war launched by Putin against Ukraine. He expressed confidence that the Russian people will overcome all difficulties together and win.

The West was once again blamed for all of Russia’s misfortunes, because the West is supposed to decide whether they will “continue aggression”, put pressure on Russia and hinder Russia’s development.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and pro-Russian actor Steven Seagal also attended Putin’s inauguration ceremony.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, said that God himself had given Putin the duty to serve the Russian people.

Yulia, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, concludes that “a liar, a thief and a murderer” will continue to rule in Russia.

Putin’s regime imprisoned her husband in an Arctic colony, a month before the “presidential election”.

“With each successive term, everything only gets worse. I’m afraid to even imagine what will happen while Putin is in power. With him, our country will have neither peace, nor development, nor freedom,” said Yulia Navalnaya.

“We have to make sure that nobody believes in Putin anymore: neither in Russia nor outside its borders.”

After the so-called Russian presidential “elections” held in March, in which Putin allegedly received 87% of the vote, there were calls in Western countries not to recognize him as the legitimate leader of Russia.

Most European countries boycotted Putin’s inauguration ceremony in Moscow, however “Radio Svoboda” reports that representatives from six European Union (EU) member states: France, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus and Malta have come to this event.

Most EU member states, including all three Baltic states, announced that their representatives would not attend Putin’s inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin.

However, several EU member states have decided to send their representatives to Moscow. Among them are Kremlin-friendly Hungary and Slovakia, as well as France.

Paris explained its position with the desire to keep communication channels open with Russia.

Meanwhile, Great Britain, Canada and the United States were also not represented at Putin’s inauguration ceremony.

The US State Department announced that the US will recognize Putin as the President of Russia. The department said in a statement that the United States does not consider the elections held in Russia to be free and fair, but that Putin is the president of Russia and will continue to hold that office.

CONTEXT:

Russian presidential “elections” were held from March 15 to March 17, after which Vladimir Putin was declared victorious with more than 87% of the vote.

Free and fair elections have not been possible in Russia for a long time, so this vote can be considered a farce, the main purpose of which is to ensure the current master of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, the opportunity to stay in office for another six years.

Putin has ruled Russia since 2000; during this time he has eradicated almost all manifestations of democracy: opposition leaders have been killed, arrested or exiled; the judiciary is subordinate to the Kremlin; the activities of non-governmental organizations and independent journalists are extremely limited.

A month before the elections, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison.

Politicians from several parties loyal to Putin were allowed to take part in the Russian presidential “elections”, whose task was to create an image of free elections.

Under Putin, Russia has started and is still going to war against Ukraine. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of deporting Ukrainian children, a war crime.