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Alexander Zemlianichenko / Pool via AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin and former President Dmitry Medvedev, right, stand as an honor guard march during an inauguration ceremony at the Cathedral Square in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday.
Updated at 5:45 a.m. ET: MOSCOW -- Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia's president at a glittering ceremony on Monday, hours after clashes between police and thousands of protesters in the country's capital laid bare the deep divisions over his return to the Kremlin for six more years.
In the latest demonstrations on Sunday, police detained more than 400 people, including three opposition leaders, after tensions boiled over at a rally attended by about 20,000 people across the Moscow river from the Kremlin.
Police hit protesters on the head with batons as they tried to stop demonstrators advancing towards them, carrying metal crowd barriers and throwing objects. The crowd fought back with flagpoles before the police eventually restored order.
"Putin has shown his true face, how he 'loves' his people -- with police force," said Dmitry Gorbunov, 35, a computer analyst who took part in the protest.
NYT: Russia's Medvedev reveals 'very bad moods'
Months of protests have polarized Russia and left Putin facing a battle to reassert himself or risk being sidelined by the powerful business and political elites whose backing is vital.
Riot police clash with thousands of opposition activists in Moscow as Vladimir Putin returns to power as Russia's president. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
Lavish reception
Putin, a former KGB spy, took his oath before nearly 2,000 guests in the Kremlin's St Andrew Hall, the former throne room with sparkling chandeliers, gilded pillars and high Gothic vaults, before being blessed by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and taking charge of the nuclear suitcase.
"We will achieve our goals if we are a single, united people, if we hold our fatherland dear, strengthen Russian democracy, constitutional rights and freedoms," Putin said in a five-minute speech after taking the oath. "I will do all I can to justify the faith of millions of our citizens. I consider it to be the meaning of my whole life and my obligation to serve my fatherland and our people."
He was also due to host a lavish reception featuring only Russian food and drink.
US complains to Russia over harassment of ambassador
Although he has remained Russia's supreme leader for the past four years as prime minister, Putin will take back the formal reins of power he ceded to his ally Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 after eight years as president.
On Sunday, several thousand people staged a rally supporting Putin, seen by his backers as the only leader capable of defending Russia's interests on the world stage and the guardian of the economy at home.
While Putin's critics have tired of a political system that concentrates power in one man, many of his supporters welcome his domination of the country of more than 140 million.
Andrey Smirnov / AFP -Getty Images
Russian Police officers detain opposition supporters during a rally in Moscow on May 6, 2012. Russian riot police violently clashed with protesters at a rally on the eve of strongman Vladimir Putin's return for a third Kremlin term, arresting over 250 people including opposition leaders.
"Democracy is the power of the majority. Russia is everything, the rest is nothing!" Alexander Dugin, a Kremlin-aligned nationalist, told the pro-Putin crowd.
Rifts
The rival rallies Sunday underlined the rifts opened by Putin's return to the Kremlin and protests that were sparked by allegations of electoral fraud but fuelled by many Russians' frustration that one man continues to dominate the country.
The BBC reported that prominent opposition figures Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Boris Nemtsov were among the people detained Sunday.
From the archives: Anti-Putin activists pay high price, but refuse to back down
Although the protests had lost momentum before Sunday's rally, they have given birth to a civil society, two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, that is gradually chipping away at Putin's authority.
Putin, who will be 60 in October, grew up in Soviet days and worked as a spy in communist East Germany, is under pressure to show he can adapt to the new political landscape. Few think he has changed much -- if at all.
Russia threatens preemptive strike over planned US missile shield
Putin has eased up on the choreographed macho antics that burnished his image at his peak in Russia, such as riding horseback bare-chested and shooting a tiger with a tranquiliser gun.
Harder to shake off will be his habit of seeking total control and learning to cope with political opponents and a middle class demanding more political freedom.
US ambassador vents on Twitter about Russian media
He has to quell rivalries between liberals and conservatives battling for positions in the new cabinet under Medvedev, who is swapping jobs with Putin. The outcome of the struggle could help determine how far reforms go to improve the investment climate.
Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP/Getty Images
Russians march along a street during an opposition protest rally in Moscow on Sunday. Russian riot police violently clashed with protesters on the eve of Vladimir Putin's return for a third Kremlin term.
The $1.9 trillion economy is in better shape than in most European countries but is vulnerable to any change in the price of oil, Russia's main export commodity. The budget is under pressure from Putin's lavish election spending promises.
Putin has said he wants to attract more foreign investment by improving the business climate, reduce corruption and red tape, and end Russia's heavy dependence on energy exports. He has not spelled out how he will do this.
Putin is likely, as in the past, to use tough anti-Western rhetoric on foreign policy to drum up support if times get tough in Russia. But he has never yielded his strong influence over foreign policy as premier, so a major policy shift is unlikely.
Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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Congratulations President Vladimir Putin. Diplomacy by US Amb to Moscow is sorely needed- not twitter accusations/misinformation etc. President Putin's policies: Economy- diversification (innovation) since heavily dependent on energy resources (Russian oil company Rosneft and Norway's Statoil signed a megabuck Arctic agreement). Improve education,agriculture,infrastructure and other sectors. Reduce state intervention,commerce policies to attract foreign investment. Political reforms: implement gradual reforms-gubernatorial,legislative,elections simplifying registration process for small parties, 10 yr stable development period. Social policies: welfare for retirees (no age upping up),housing for 60% of Russian families by 2020Personal health- cut mortgage payment rates, increase Russian population to 154 mill. next 40 yrs,supports multiethnic society, keep nuclear detrerrance for startegic stability.
The Tzar has returned. The Coronation, err, "swearing in" was held in the Throne Room - hard to miss his overt message to the people and the world. Tzar Valdimir III and may he meet the same fate as the last Tzar.
The wealthy oligarchs have done well as the common people starve, corruption is rampant and there is no free speech. Once again, the ideas of some are enough to force the regime to arrest them in order that they not be heard by people. Such a tenuous hold on power can only be maintained by brutal oppression. Nothing to be proud of here. Nothing worth admiring. Delusions of grandeur from yet another dictator.
"The $1.9 trillion economy is in better shape than in most European countries"... and that is very important for the people. besides keeping Russia foreign policy pro-Russian and independent.
The West can demonize him, but this is a Russian decision and he has been the most important political figure since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Deal with him.
Don't be hating on the US. We didn't repress you, it's your government, just like ours. "Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss..."
Soviet Union rises again. Wish we had Reagan back in the White House!
You're kidding right? That man was a fruitcake.
If we are choosing from a list of dead Cold War presidents, get Kennedy out here.
Kennedy? why are we fighting with Cuba again? Kennedy was a joke as president. An embarrassment until he was assassinated then of course he's a hero. Reagan won the cold war with Russia and his trickle down economics where a hugfe success that Clinton took credit for. Stop drinking the Democratic kool aid and read a book!
Rob-1699252: Actually, Reagan instituted a Carter-era policy on outspending the USSR (Zbigniew Brzezinski's idea) and fell more in line with moderate policies than extreme right (baring his space race silliness, which was also a way to outspend the Russians). And trickle down economics was seen as a complete failure, resulting in the horrible economics of the early 90s that actually brought in Clinton (remember "it's the economy, stupid").
Revisionism is nice, but I respectfully say you're wrong.
He needs to fix Russian's prison system and how they deal with multi-drug resistant TB
"Harder to shake off will be his habit of seeking total control and learning to cope with political opponents..."
I like minimization - damn you guys are good.
@Rob-1699252
Trickle-down economics is a joke of a policy that only worked for a short time during the manufacturing era of this country. Since there was enough wealth here and little competition elsewhere, it was easy for people to make enough money to be ok, not because of trickle-down economics, but because we were an export country in general.
Trickle-down economics is basically saying the rich (CEO's, wealthy congressmen,...etc), are the hand that feeds us and we should just be content to live off of their scraps. It is a system that gives all the credit to the rich, while giving no credit to the working class that is the engine of a company, and the reason it does well.
This leads us to where we are today, it is just assumed that if the rich are doing ok, then we will too, even though the rich send their jobs to foreign countries, keep our wages stagnant, and give themselves multi-million dollar pay packages, even if a company is failing.
Russian corruption is inplanted in the Russian gene, must be stopped by a Russian hopefully Mr. Putin can do it this time.
The "reign" is back. He just took a 'mandatory break' according to the law. Actually, there is no difference between putin and medvedev.
I believe that he wants to be president for life. This is not the first time the Russian People have been cheated of democracy.
Mimi, I have read your posts in the past and wondered where in the world you were located and where your head was at. I believe that you are a Russian Plant on the News Vine. NO ONE with any kind of free thinking would believe that Putin is anything but a NAZI and he will lead Russia to war. Be it a small war on one of his borders like Georgia was, or supporting "Russians" in other countries to rise up and then send in his army to "stop the fighting".
SHAME on you and anyone that supported Putin. They are the same type that supported Hitler, only now, Russia has nukes.
Damn shame....Russia has such potential, but now...another minimum of 6 years of NAZI rule.
Putin never really left the presidency. Medvedev was nothing but a puppet whose strings were being pulled by Putin the whole time. Medvedev was just keeping the chair warm until Putin could once again officially take control. Putin will run Russia for as long as he wants to. It has become a cult of personality over there, and heaven help anyone who is not a member of the cult, they will be reeducated or just disappear. Putin tolerates some dissent just to try and make himself look that much more legitimate while any true threats to his power are quietly dealt with. Putin is an old KGB spy and he controls Russia today the same way the KGB controlled the Soviet Union through fear, intimidation, and disappearing of enemies. Anyone who thinks that Russia is a real democracy is either completely naive or just an idiot.
Vladimir Putin is a thug and a crook. Sadly, the only way he'll give up the reins of power is when some even bigger thug and crook arranges for him to have an accident (with a poison tipped umbrella).
All I know is that there are more people than riot police and you cannot keep people down. As we have seen in other parts of the world. People have the power and its really not hard when you have thousands upon thousands of them.
I believe from some of the reports and statement that Medvedev wanted to be different and make changes, but was rapidly told to get in line and what his limits were. It wasn't the President who had power.
Poor Guy Fawkes dude...."You cut my hair?"
He speaks of freedoms and a stronger Democracy for the Fatherland, while 400 hundred are being arrested for protesting? Is that an oxymoron or just some more of the past cold war era.
(400 / 138,082,178) * 100 = 0.0003% of Russia. It's not even a statistical outlier.
Welcome back Tsar Putin. The rest of the world isn't fooled by your revolving door elections.
All Hail Democracy!!!...if you can find it. I can't.
You can't find it because it doesn't exist. Except in a few tribes in Brazil and New Guinea. And even there the women can't vote.
"Democracy is the power of the majority. Russia is everything, the rest is nothing!" Alexander Dugin, a Kremlin-aligned nationalist, told the pro-Putin crowd.....after they rigged the elections, Florida style.
Yes, we certainly have big problems here, but I think a lot of us are hopeful things can get better. Greece, France, Russia? No way.
I feel so sorry for the Russian people and the world in general. Russia has such potential, but with this election, I see nothing but another HITLER type of person coming to power. He was a POS before, went behind the scenes to still be a control freak for him and his corrupt friends and now he is free to do as he wants with millions to follow him.
How long before the torch light parades and swearing in of the "New Soldiers" happens? How long before screams of "Heil Putin" start to be shouted? Already those that are against him are being arrested.
Damn Shame
Can't teach an old dog new tricks, He's a former KGB agent and his old habits of rule by fear have not gone away. He equates respect with fear and submission. While on the subject, here is the good ol' USA, same thing, can't teach old dogs new tricks, The democrats and republicans have been in power too long. They control all the money and power. You have to be one of them to get elected and if you are one of them, not much will ever change. We get tons of legislation that are 1,000 pages long no one can understand. We get crisis managment, don't worry about nothing until something happens and then, watch out, we'll fix it like when gas prices first went up to $4 and the politicians stand around gas pumps spouting nonsense about how they are going to do something UNTIL it goes away. We have micro managing, tweak every little thing for everybody. The Tea Party claims to be the party of change BUT they are just the ideological right wing arm of the republicans. They are NOT the future. They are the PAST. IF only things were like they used to be, everything would be great. So, as Putin tries to keep Russia in the old communist past, and as the Islamic clerics and politicians try to relive the glory days of Islam, and as US politicians fear the future and will say anything to get elected, it seems all of this is different BUT the same.
Meet the new boss...same as the old boss?
Yeah, I voted for "change you can believe in", but have been disappointed. Given that we will get another 4 years of Mr. Obama AND HE CAN NOT GET REELECTED, perhaps now we can get some movement.
solution: Ron Paul
The only thing I noticed in this article are the 2 hot babes in the middle of the protest.
Oh... DEAR GOD!!!....They really are everywhere...and they don't even know they are hot until they hit the West...
Fortunately the fat plague hasn't hit Russia just yet.
I'm just going to throw this thought out to all of the geniuses that believe that these officers act without thinking as if they are robots - that they act of their own free will and will act the very same no matter who is in office in any nation.
That is because there is a global agreement among law enforcement - beat first, ask questions later. And until citizens of each free nation demand that their power be reduced to remain within their intended role under the law, these hate crimes - which they are - will continue globally.
Hitler's police were separate from his army. They had a choice. And they elected to harm, too. It was the SS that went around shooting Jews at random by their own choice and free will.
Hitler was evil, there is no doubt - but he was only one man.
It is the mass of men - the hundreds of thousands with a depraved heart that followed him by their own free will and established that Nazi machine of horror.
It is the police, not as much the national leader.
And when the national leader was head of the police, then what? I'd really be convinced if you could produce a copy of this global agreement or a policeman who has stated publicly that such an agreement exists, even tacitly. And while I'm waiting, I think I'll call TD Ameritrade and invest in some tinfoil futures.
Mackie,
First of all, are you really so un-educated, you think all 'Police want to Beat People'? Then it reads like you are saying the 'SS' was not part of the 'NAZI Military', from what 'Bowling Ball Truck' did you fall off of? You are so 'INCORRECT'!
I believe the church in Russia has a huge amount of power as well. If you look at the history of how religions in Russia were beat down you will find the police often acted at the behest of the church leaders. They do beat first and don't ask questions later. Just look into the history of religion there. Politics and religion are bedmates and will have an accounting at the right time. The Orthodox Church are the real rulers of Russia, Putin is just the messenger doing what they want him to do.
The Orthodox Church has no power in Russia.
God help the world...this is the George Bush of Russia
Putin is a very bright man, don't even think to compare Bush with him. Putin really put Russia together, and kept it from foaling apart. But for this, Russians are paying big price, they cant get rid of him now.
You've obvioulsy been on a Siesta for the past 31/2 years already there Siesta. You missed the whole Obama era. Sorry, I keep forgetting that this is MSNBC's website and it is overrun with stupid ass people like you.
Good, witty comeback don. So what exactly did you expect to happen when the gop started, from day one, to sidetrack every single thing the President wanted to do. Hell, they wouldn't even agree to the deals they had originally made before Obama was elected. There goal was to damage his presidency at ANY COST! Get it? Your party, the party of anything but Country First, did everything in their power to make him fail.
I often wonder how much further along this country would be if the republicans actually cared about the country and its people, instead of birth control and money.
You can all go pack sand for all I care as you have reached the level of irrelevance. You people disgust me.
And stupid? umm, wasn't it you guys who wanted Palin as VP? Wow.
"...facing a battle to reassert himself or risk being sidelined by the powerful business and political elites whose backing is vital. "
That says it all, and the formula isn't unique to Russia. If you wonder who you're working for, there's a clue.
putin too strong for obama to say no too i believe obama will crumble everytime putin gets angry and make threats against united states
Dear Russian DEMOCRATS, we know just how you feel! You ONLY HAVE ONE TO CONTEND WITH, we, the 99% American People have a corrupt Republican corporate MONARCH that we have to contend with that has made SLAVES OUT OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM PROSPEROUS! Hang in there! We, the 99% Americans are VOTING 100% DEMOCRATIC in hopes of getting our government back FOR THE PEOPLE & BY THE PEOPLE! We are like what MARTIN LUTHER KING said, "We shall overcome, the corrupt Republican corporates & their political puppets that they forced on us for their CAPITALISTIC GREED!
5
Bless you...
I have written this post and then erased it about 25 times. Bless you is the best thing I can say.
Russia has some kind of " Heavy Form" of capitalism that Putin applied on Russians. Russian people cant live like he wants, this is not in their nature, there are too many poor to apply that kind of capitalism on them, they foaling behind the rich big time.
Corruption makes it impossible for hope. Many of them "nostalgic" for Soviet Union, where everyone had job, affordable food in the stores, and Government took care of their health, and no they didn't live like North Korea. They lived good and they want it back and with Putin that will not happen. So they cant keep up with capitalism, and they cant have back socialism.
Alina, you revisonist history people crack me up.
Ohh yes, the citizens under the Soviet Union had it so great, especially those "lucky" enough to be sent to the Gulag Labor Camps, where by conservative estimate of what went on at least one million people died through forced labor, disease, and starvation. If you believe the full scale of what may have happened and how many camps there may have been, how many more died of their ailments after "release," the numbers are likely much higher. I guess you wouldn't have to worry those, because they only sent criminals there, like for instance those guilty of not carrying the party line. But march on Comrade, don't let the ugly truth get in the way of rose tinted communist dreams. You could probably score a mid level government corruption job in the new regeime with your attitude, so you could have it good on the blood and sweat of your people.
Putin suffers from Peter Pan - short man syndrome in every way. Another stint as "President" is laughable. He has no desire to lead his nation - just look cool and powerful in the mirror.
He claims Democracy for the Motherland but then touts an anti-Western agenda.
This man is a dictator and on top of that we have a socialist in our White House.
We need another Ronald Reagan!
I knew I wasn't crazy! The Russians have always reffered to their nation as the 'motherland.' Putin is calling it the 'fatherland,' this is not good.
ok good to see i wasn't the only one as well - you can take the guy out of the KGB but you can take the KGB out of the guy...guess next well will see him slam his shoe on a podium (if you do not know that reference then look it up and you will know what i am talking about)
Kruschev was a wild man who weilded his shoe no doubt, but he did tell those boats heading for Cuba to turn around. Kruschev also had to answer to a body politic in the form of the communist party. Putin answers to Putin and if he's saved the world I sure as hell don't know about it. I fear greatly that what is coming will make the old USSR look like a hairless gerbil juggling candy corn. The Russians still have thousands of more nukes than we do and a wild man who can Putin his finger right on that button. Tricky days are on the way...Godspeed.
The only thing creepier than Vlad Putin himself, is a Russia that he calls 'fatherland.' Anytime some arrogant power weilding pecker head starts throwing out terms like 'fatherland', well, stand by.
Well, I guess its 'Back to the USSR'.
I expect the next thing we'll here is the KGB is coming back (if it ever left)
they were privatized.
Are there a lot of little people like Putin living in Russia? Mededev and Putin look like little kids with a genetic problem.
Now THAT's an Imperial Presidency!
Viva Putin
Notice in the lead picture , as pootin walks down the aisle, how all the people have a hand out.
The Dicktator returns ........