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Putin returns as Russia president

Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia’s president on Monday in a glittering Kremlin ceremony that took place less than 24 hours after protesters opposed to his rule had battled police in downtown Moscow. ‘I swear on the power invested in me as president of the Russian Federation to respect and protect the rights and freedom of its citizens,’ Putin said, his right hand placed on a red-bound copy of the Russian Constitution.

Russia’s nuclear suitcase was handed over to Putin immediately after his inauguration. Putin’s motorcade had earlier sped through empty streets locked down by a heavy security presence on its way to the Kremlin State Palace, where some 2,000 guests had gathered to witness his inauguration for a six-year term. Those assembled included Putin’s handpicked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, and Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia’s powerful Orthodox Church. Former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, was also in attendance. ‘We are entering a new stage of national development,’ Putin said. ‘We want to live in a democratic country… in a successful Russia,’ he said.

Police made 120 arrests as some 200 people, including Yeltsin-era deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov, protested Putin’s return to the presidency at separate locations near the Kremlin. Putin was forced to step down in 2008 by a constitution that forbids more than two subsequent terms, but is silent on further periods in office. He shifted to the post of prime minister after installing his hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, in the Kremlin, but remained by far Russia’s most powerful politician.

He won a landslide victory in the March 4 presidential elections marred by allegations of vote fraud. Medvedev said shortly before Putin’s inauguration that the authorities had become ‘more open to dialogue’ during his four-year rule. Russia’s constitution was amended in 2008 to increase the presidential term of office from four years to six. Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured as Sunday’s rally against Putin’s rule turned violent when protesters briefly broke through police lines in a bid to take their protest to the Kremlin walls. Putin’s opponents accuse him of corruption and curtailing political freedom.

Sunday’s rally followed a series of unprecedented mass anti-government protests this winter. Putin accused the US of backing opposition leaders and dismissed demonstrators on national television as ‘Bandar-log’, a reference to the chattering monkeys of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.


Medvedev changes navy commander

Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed the commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky. He has now appointed Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov for the position, the Kremlin press office reported on Sunday, without explaining the reasons for the dismissal.

The 57-year-old Vysotsky occupied the top military post for almost five years. Chirkov, 52, was commander of the Baltic Fleet, before his appointment. After his appointment, Chirkov said he would prioritise the construction of navy fleets in Russia. ‘The most important thing for Russia is to build a fleet with the support of the president and like-minded persons,’ Chirkov said.

In a similar move in late April, Medvedev sacked the Air Force commander, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin. Zelin, 59, occupied the top military post for five years, during which the air force begun to receive new aircraft and equipment in significant numbers.

Medvedev appointed Major-General Viktor Bondarev, 52, as the new Air Force commander, and Zelin as an aide to the Russian defence minister. Senior military commanders in Russia usually retire at age 60.
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