Vladimir Putin is sworn in for his fifth time period as president

Vladimir Putin has been sworn in for his fifth term as Russia‘s president in front of hand-picked guests, including US actor Steven Seagal, at a ceremony inside the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace.

The Russian dictator was first sworn in as president almost a quarter of a century ago in May 2000, when he pledged to ‘preserve and develop democracy’ and to ‘take care of Russia.’

He has since launched his country into a full-scale war with Ukraine and brutally extinguished all opposition and destroyed his political rivals in a rigged election.

Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya called President Vladimir Putin a ‘liar, a thief (and) a murderer’ in a statement that came ahead of his inauguration.

‘Our country is being led by a liar, a thief and a murderer. But this will definitely come to an end,’ said Navalnaya, the exiled widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison.

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes the oath during an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 7, 2024

US actor Steven Seagal arrives to Russia’s president-elect Vladimir Putin inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024

The Russian dictator was first sworn in as president almost a quarter of a century ago

The ceremony took place in the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace and was attended by hand-picked guests

During the ceremony, Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it as a crowd of hand-picked dignitaries looked on.

Since succeeding President Boris Yeltsin in the waning hours of 1999, Putin has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security. 

Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has become Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, Russia has been heavily sanctioned by the West and is turning to other regimes like China, Iran and North Korea for support.

The question now is what the 71-year-old Putin will do over the course of another six years, both at home and abroad.

Russian forces are gaining ground in Ukraine, deploying scorched-earth tactics as Kyiv grapples with shortages of men and ammunition. Both sides are taking heavy casualties.

Ukraine has brought the battle to Russian soil through drone and missile attacks, especially in border regions. In a speech in February, Putin vowed to fulfill Moscow’s goals in Ukraine, and do what is needed to ‘defend our sovereignty and security of our citizens.’

Shortly after his orchestrated reelection in March, Putin suggested that a confrontation between NATO and Russia is possible, and he declared he wanted to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraine to protect his country from cross-border attacks.

Alexander Zaldostanov, also known as Khirurg (The Surgeon), a leader of the Night Wolves bikers’ club, arrives for the inauguration ceremony

Russian President Vladimir Putin places his hand on the Constitution as he takes the oath during an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow

A honour guard carries the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the President’s sign prior to Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin

At home, Putin’s popularity is closely tied to improving living standards for ordinary Russians.

He began his term in 2018 by promising to get Russia into the top five global economies, vowing it should be ‘modern and dynamic.’ Instead, Russia’s economy has pivoted to a war footing, and authorities are spending record amounts on defense.

Analysts say now that Putin has secured another six years in power, the government could take the unpopular steps of raising taxes to fund the war and pressure more men to join the military.

At the start of a new term, the Russian government is routinely dissolved so that Putin can name a new prime minister and Cabinet. One key area to watch is the Defense Ministry.

Last year, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came under pressure over his conduct of the war, with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launching withering criticism against him for shortages of ammunition for his private contractors fighting in Ukraine. 

Prigozhin’s brief uprising in June against the Defense Ministry represented the biggest threat to Putin’s rule.

After Prigozhin was killed two months later in a mysterious plane crash, Shoigu appeared to have survived the infighting. But last month, his protege, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, was detained on charges of bribery amid reports of rampant corruption.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (C) arrives for the inauguration ceremony of Vladimir Putin as Russian President in the Kremlin

Some analysts have suggested Shoigu could become a victim of the government reshuffle but that would be a bold move as the war is still raging in Ukraine.

In the years following the invasion, authorities have cracked down on any form of dissent with a ferocity not seen since Soviet times. There is no sign that this repression will ease in Putin’s new term.

His greatest political foe, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony in February. Other prominent critics have either been imprisoned or have fled the country, and even some of his opponents abroad fear for their security.

Laws have been enacted that threaten long prison terms for anyone who discredits the military. The Kremlin also targets independent media, rights groups, LGBTQ+ activists and others who don’t hew to what Putin has emphasized as Russia’s ‘traditional family values.’