Vladimir Putin To Sworn In As President For Record Fifth Term; Many Western Countries Boycott

As Russian president Vladimir Putin is going to be sworn in into office for a record-breaking fifth term today, many Western countries have signalled that they will not attend the inauguration ceremony. The 71-year-old president has been ruling the largest country on earth since the turn of the century.

The inauguration ceremony will be held in the Kremlin today, and the function will be telecast live on all major Russian channels. The president is expected to reach Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace and take the presidential oath at the ornate Saint Andrew Hall. He would also deliver a brief speech to the people of Russia. 

Many government officials and foreign diplomats have been invited to the inauguration. However, it is reported that many Western countries such as Poland, Germany, Czech Republic etc have informed that they will not send their diplomats to the ceremony. The US and UK are also reported to have boycotted the event amid Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine

As the result was declared on March 17 this year, Vladimir Putin won Russia’s presidential elections by securing 87.97 per cent of the votes. Securing a fresh six-year mandate, he was set to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in more than two centuries.

However, Ukraine has asked its Western allies not to recognise Vladimir Putin as the legitimate president of Russia. The war-stricken country has noted the 87 per cent landslide majority as fake citing the international observers. 

It is also important to note that the sworn-in ceremony comes at a time when Russia’s bilateral relationship with its Western counterparts is more tense. Russia recently threatened to strike British military sites following the provocative comments by sections of politicians. 

However, it is reported that Mr Putin is also looking for a shake-up in the government amid the weakening economy due to the continued three-year war. The challenges such as the rising inflation amid the hiked military spending also need to be addressed during his fifth term. 

Notably, the president seems more confident in the gains the country made in the fight against Ukraine without destabilising the economy amid the Western sanctions.