Vladimir Putin was sworn in as president of the Russian Federation for the fifth time on 7 May 2024 for a six-year term. He took the oath of office at a ceremony held at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
The ceremony was attended by Russia’s top military and political leadership, but the United States and many European nations boycotted the ceremony, saying that the presidential election was a fraud.
Western countries led by the United States of America have been opposing Putin since the Russian troops invaded and annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. In 2022, Putin sent his troops to Ukraine, and since then, the war between Russia and Ukraine has continued. Ukraine is heavily supported by Western countries, and they have imposed a range of economic sanctions on Russia.
A presidential election was held in Russia between 15 and 17 March 2024. Vladimir Putin stood as an independent candidate. The Russian Central Election Commission allowed only three opposition candidates to contest the election. Many leaders who were fierce critics of Putin were either exiled or put in prison so that they could not contest the election.
The election was won by Putin, who secured 87.3% of the votes polled.
Many Western countries and independent observers believe that the Russian presidential election was not free and fair and that the opposition was not allowed a fair chance to fight it.
Vladimir Putin was an intelligence officer with the KGB. After leaving the KGB, he entered politics, and in 1999, after President Boris Yeltsin's resignation, he was appointed interim president of Russia.
He contested his first presidential election in the 2000 presidential election and won a four-year term.
He was again re-elected for a four-year term in 2004 and remained president till 2008.
He had to step down as the president of Russia because the constitution did not allow a person to become president for more than two consecutive terms
He was appointed prime minister of Russia by the newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 and remained in office until 2012.
The constitution was amended in 2008, and the limit on the president's term was abolished. Later, the term of the president’s office was extended to 6 years.
Putin won his third presidential election in 2012. He was appointed for a six-year term and was again reelected for the fourth term in 2018.
With his re-election in 2024 for the fifth time, Putin is expected to remain in office till 2030.
The Kremlin is a symbol of Russian power and authority. It is located in the heart of Moscow and is the official residence and office of the Russian President.
It is just like the White House of the United States of America, which is the official residence and office of the President of the United States.
Russia is the world’s largest country by area. It is a Eurasian country that geographically lies in both Europe and Asia. However, it is considered to be a European country.
The Modern Russian Federation came into being in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) or the Soviet Union.
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Rouble
President: Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin