During the president’s inauguration on May 7, Patriarch Kirill expressed his wish for Putin to remain president until the end of the century.
Vladimir Putin’s presidential inauguration took place on May 7 in Moscow. He swore the oath on the Constitution, which was amended in 2020. Following the ceremony, Putin conducted a review of troops and attended a church service led by Patriarch Kirill.
"<…> Until the end of days, as we commonly say. I dare to express the hope that the end of the century coincides with the end of your rule, if it is the Lord's will. You possess all the means to continue this great duty to the Motherland with longevity and success," conveyed the Patriarch during the service.
After this segment of the inauguration, the Russian government declared its resignation.
This marks Putin’s fifth inauguration in 20 years of his tenure. In March 2024, he 'won' the elections with 87.28% of the votes.
Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of oppositionist Alexey Navalny who died in prison, urged the European Union not to acknowledge the results of the elections and to introduce sanctions against Putin’s trusted individuals and relatives of high-ranking officials.