Vladimir Putin speaks during the inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2012. Putin was sworn in on Monday as Russian president, starting his third term in the Kremlin following the two consecutive terms from 2000 to 2008. Photo: Xinhua/RIA Novosti

Editor's Note

Vladimir Putin was sworn in as the new Russian president Monday and will start his six-year term in the Kremlin despite a recent wave of protests.

Yesterday, the opposition staged rallies across Russia the day before the inauguration ceremony inside the Kremlin. Putin's supporters planned a "celebration" of 50,000 people at Victory Park - a site dedicated to Russia's 1812 defeat of Napoleon - to counter the opposition's protest.

Latest News

Putin nominates Medvedev as PM

Russia's new President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma a bill, nominating former President Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister in the new government, the lower house's speaker Sergei Naryshkin said on Monday.

Putin vows to lead Russia through new stage of development

Newly-inaugurated President Vladimir Putin vowed on Monday to lead his country through a new stage of national development.

Chinese president congratulates Putin on inauguration

Chinese President Hu Jintao has extended congratulations to Vladimir Putin, who was sworn in on Monday as Russian president, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Opposition holds rally against Putin's return to Kremlin   
Outgoing Medvedev promises freedoms as Putin's premier
Putin faces tough ride after return to Kremlin

Photos

Vladimir Putin walks during the inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2012. Putin was sworn in on Monday as Russian president, starting his third term in the Kremlin following the two consecutive terms from 2000 to 2008. Photo: Xinhua/RIA Novosti	Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin makes the sign of the cross during a prayer at the Novo-Dyevitchi Convent in Moscow Sunday. Photo: AFP
Supporters of Russian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin rally at the central Manezhnaya Square just outside the Kremlin as they celebrate his victory in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2012. Photo: Xinhua	Supporters of Russian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin rally at the central Manezhnaya Square just outside the Kremlin as they celebrate his victory in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2012. Photo: Xinhua

Video

 
Putin formally sworn in
Source: cntv.cn

Voices on Putin's Return

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been elected President again, a post he formerly held from 2000-08.

But the election was not the easy coronation some expected. Instead, tens of thousands of protesters turned out on the streets of Russian cities, challenging electoral discrepancies. Can Putin restore the shine to his new administration? Will he be able to carve a clear place for Russia in a changing world?

Dialogue

Putin eager to polish his worn-out halo
Putin has published an unprecedented series of seven newspaper articles on several important issues of Russia, offering a blueprint for his governance and foreign policy priorities. Through those articles, Putin expressed some new ideas on governance that are adaptable to new changes in Russia, suggesting he is a "new" Putin, which has helped increase his support.

Putin's Russia caught on horns of dilemma
There are significant differences in Russia's current political dynamics compared to the situation before 2008. Both the left and right want to stay at the center of the political stage. This mainly relates to the monopoly of power and resources at the moment. People worry that current governance methods may cause long-term problems, and undermine Russia's democratization.

Forum

Corruption remains biggest problem on Putin’s plate
Two perspectives are dominating the Chinese media's analysis of Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin. One is Western emphasis of Putin's violations of democratic principles, and the other is the relationship between Putin's return and China's interests.

Balancing US power tough task for Putin
The US has a bigger weight for Russia than Russia has for the US when it comes to the economy and foreign policy, though both are equally important when it comes to strategic weaponry. And neither Russian nor US leaders today consider each other as adversaries, as used to be the case during the Cold War. Yet current Russian-US relations include both elements of cooperation and rivalry, which makes it hard to find common ground in some cases.

View Point

A stable, prosperous Russia under Putin is good for China
China, as a neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of Russia, has enormous interest in seeing a stable, strong and prosperous Russia emerging under the fresh presidency of Putin.    

Putin's power has shrunk, but still Russia's first choice
Putin still has a solid powerbase, but he can no longer make decisions solely by himself like he did before. Now more people are going to join this process. The key problem here is whether Putin can use the results of the election to convince the urban middle class.

Media Reports

	About 3,000 people invited to Putin inauguration ceremony "About 3,000 people have been invited to be present at the ceremony. These are members of the Government of the RF, Members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, Constitutional Court Justices, and officials of other Federal state power bodies,"a Kremlin press service official said.
	Putin says ready to "go far" in US relations: Ifax Russia's President-elect Vladimir Putin is ready to go far in developing ties between Russia and the United States provided the relationship is equal, Interfax news agency quoted Putin's foreign policy aide as saying on Saturday.
	Vladimir Putin to be inaugurated as Russian president If he completes his six-year term, Mr Putin will be the longest serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin, BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow reports.
	Thousands Protest Putin Inauguration Anti-Kremlin protests ended in scuffles with riot police and hundreds of detentions Sunday amid a massive police presence and hacker attacks on independent websites, one day before Vladimir Putin formally returns to the presidency in a gala Kremlin inauguration ceremony.
	Vladimir Putin Vladimir V. Putin has been Russia’s leader since 2000, a strongman who has helped stabilize its economy and politics while restricting dissent.
	Putin Walks Oil-Price Tightrope in Return to Russia’s Presidency Vladimir Putin returns to the pinnacle of Russian politics today still relying on oil prices to underpin his regime as he tries to stamp out domestic dissent and reassert his country’s influence abroad.

Key Points of Putin's Policies

Economy

Putin advocates the diversification of the Russian economy. He stresses an innovation-oriented economy, which is now heavily dependent on energy resources.

He also promises to improve education, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors.

Besides, Putin proposes to reduce state intervention and to adjust economic policies to attract more foreign investment.

Political reforms

Putin signals that Russia may implement gradual political reforms, including making adjustments to gubernatorial and legislative elections and simplifying the registration process for small parties.

He also stresses that Russia needs a 10-year stable development period and any political reform should be implemented on the basis of stability.

Social policy

Putin vows to enhance social welfare, create some 25 million jobs for the egghead and provide housing for some 60 percent of Russian families by 2020.

He opposes to increase the retirement age, calls on the country to pay more attention to personal health and proposes to cut mortgage payment rates.

Meanwhile, Putin also envisages a long-term demographic development plan to increase Russia's population to 154 million in the next 40 years.

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Profile: Putin

Putin the man

Born on October 7,1952, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg)
Studied law and economics before joining the former Soviet Union's State Security Committee (KGB)
Served as KGB agent in East Germany from 1985 to 1990
Married, two daughters
Speaks German and English

Putin in power

In 1991: After Sobchak was elected mayor of St. Petersburg in June 1991, Putin was appointed head of the mayor's office committee for external relations.
In 1997, he was appointed deputy chief of Russian President Boris Yeltsin's office and head of the president's main control directorate.
In July 1998, Yeltsin appointed Putin director of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
In August 1999, Yeltsin dismissed Sergei Stepashin, his fourth prime minister in 16 months, and replaced him with Putin.
In 2000: Putin was elected president in first round.
In 2004: Putin was re-elected by landslide in February.
In 2008: Putin becomes prime minister after his protege Dmitry Medvedev's landslide win in March presidential election.
In September 2011, Putin announced that he would seek the presidency in 2012.
In 2012: He wins a third term as president.

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Source: Xinhua