Putin takes office as president today ─ all details of the inauguration ceremony

The inauguration of the president is a ceremonial procedure for assuming the duties of the head of state.

The procedure for the inauguration of the President of Russia, according to the Law on the Election of the President of the Russian Federation, is carried out six years after the date of the predecessor's inauguration. If repeated elections are scheduled for this day, as well as in the case of extraordinary elections, the elected president will take office on the thirtieth day after the official announcement of the results of the presidential elections by the Central Election Commission of Russia.

Since 2000, the inauguration of the President of Russia has been held on May 7. This year it will also be held on May 7. Russian TV channels will broadcast the ceremony live.

The solemn ceremony itself is not prescribed by the law on the election of the head of state. The Constitution of the Russian Federation only states that, upon taking office, the President of the Russian Federation takes the oath in a solemn atmosphere in the presence of members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma and judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

The inauguration script was originally developed for the inauguration of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin. Since then, there have been no significant changes. The only change made was not to the procedure itself, but to the place where it takes place. When Boris Yeltsin took office, the ceremony was held in the Congress Palace of the Kremlin. Since 2000, it has been held in the ceremonial halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace: Andreevskaya, Aleksandrovskaya and Georgievskaya. Since then, the same script of the ceremony has been used, but certain changes may be added to it. This is handled by the Presidential Protocol Service.

The list of dignitaries is also determined by the Protocol Service. The ceremony must be attended by members of the government, members of the State Duma and Federation Council, heads of the presidential administration, judges of the Constitutional Court, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and so on.

Invitees and participants, according to the protocol, must wear formal suits.

During the inauguration of the newly elected head of state, symbols of presidential power are used - the sign of the president and his standard (flag), as well as a special copy of the constitution, which is usually kept in the presidential library and on which the president takes the oath.

At approximately 11:15, the entrance to the Kremlin closes for all those invited to the ceremony. Guests fill the three halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace. The ceremony lasts about an hour.

The inauguration itself starts at noon. Through Georgijevska and Aleksandrovska to Andreevska hall, the flagbearers carry the national flag of Russia and the flag of the president. Then the Constitution and the sign of the president of Russia are entered and are placed on the rostrum where the head of state will take the oath.

The presidential orchestra performs a ceremonial march. The president of the Constitutional Court and the presidents of both houses of the parliament ascend to the rostrum.

Shortly before noon, the newly elected president of Russia arrives at the Grand Kremlin Palace. On the stairs of the palace, he receives a report from the commander of the Kremlin. Then he enters the Grand Kremlin Palace through the main entrance, climbs the main staircase, passes through the lobby, passes the guests and guardsmen of the Presidential Regiment in the Georgievska and Aleksandrovska halls.

The presidential orchestra performs the composition "Our President", written especially for the inauguration.

At exactly 12 o'clock, the newly elected president enters the Andreevska hall and climbs the podium.

The President of the Constitutional Court asks the elected President of Russia to take the oath. The text of the presidential oath is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Article 82):

"I swear that, when exercising the powers of the President of the Russian Federation, I will respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, respect and defend the Constitution of the Russian Federation, protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state and faithfully serve the people."

The newly elected president, placing his right hand on the Constitution of the Russian Federation, pronounces the text of the oath.

The President of the Constitutional Court then announces that the newly elected President has taken office. The national anthem begins to be played in the hall, and the flag of the head of state rises above the dome of the presidential residence in the Kremlin.

After taking the oath to the people of Russia, the head of state must make a brief address to the citizens of the country.

At the end of the president's speech, Mihail Glinka's patriotic piece "Long Live!" is performed. A 30-gun salute is fired from the shores of the Kremlin. This is the maximum number of platoons in the hierarchy of military honors, since the head of state is the supreme commander of the Russian armed forces.

After the inauguration ceremony, the president descends the red staircase to the Kremlin's Cathedral Square, where the parade of the Presidential Regiment takes place.

On the occasion of the presidential inauguration, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia offers a prayer service in the Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kremlin. According to tradition, the president attends the service.