https://www.rbth.com/history/328214-inauguration-ceremonies-in-kremlin
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Inauguration ceremonies in the Kremlin: From Yeltsin to Putin (PHOTOS)
History
May 06, 2018
Alexey Timofeychev
Moscow is gearing up for another inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin, and Vladimir Putin will be taking center stage for the fourth time on May 7. It’s the seventh such event in Russia’s recent history, and all started in 1991 when the country was still part of the USSR.
Alexander Makarov/Sputnik
Boris Yeltsin swore an oath to become the president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on July 10, 1991. It was the first inauguration ceremony of its kind (as Soviet leaders did not have such rituals) and Yeltsin placed his right hand on his heart, not on the Constitution, which later became tradition. The main state document was just there for show.
Dmitry Sokolov/TASS
The young Russian Republic still had its Soviet flag with the hammer and sickle. The Soviet Union still existed at the time spearheaded by Mikhail Gorbachev. He congratulated Yeltsin, his bitter political rival, and called upon him to keep the Union. From July to December, until the collapse of the USSR, the two presidents shared the Kremlin as their official place of residence.
Dmitryi Donskoy/Sputnik
It’s said that the 1996 ceremony was initially supposed to take place on the Kremlin square as singing and bells sounded in the background, but this was cut out. The event marking Yeltsin’s return to office was shortened due to his poor health. He was sporting a new presidential sign: A golden cross with the Russian coat of arms on a meter long gold chain.
Vladimir Rodionov/Sputnik
In 2000, Yeltsin’s successor - Vladimir Putin - did not want to wear the flashy jewelry. However, the cross, presidential banner, and special copy of the Constitution were officially made part of the inauguration in 1996 so Putin had to suck it up. “Take care of Russia!” the old man said to his successor.
Vladimir Rodionov/TASS
The ceremony after Putin’s reelection in 2004 was twice as short as the previous one, lasting only 25 minutes. According to Russian officials, 1,700 guests were invited to the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Sergey Guneev/Sputnik
In 2008, when Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev became president, Vladimir Putin recalled Yeltsin’s words, and said that taking care of Russia remained his utmost civic duty. He then handed over power to Medvedev.
Putin’s return to the Kremlin after his reelection in 2012 was preceded by protests fueled by the parliamentary elections at the end of 2011. However, the streets were almost empty when Putin drove to his inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin on May 7, 2012.
AP
The inauguration ceremony takes place in Andreyevsky Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace, named after the highest award of the Russian Empire: The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called. The hall was redesigned during the USSR but in 1993 - on Yeltsin’s request - the space was restored to its original beauty. In the time of the Russian Empire, the hall was used for solemn events like coronations.
https://www.rbth.com/arts/327015-uncle-vova-we-are-with-you
‘Uncle Vova, we are with you!’ Russian songs about Vladimir Putin
Culture
Dec 14, 2017
Alexey Timofeychev
The first songs about Putin appeared pretty soon after he took office
Sputnik
The president certainly has his admirers, among them a number of pop stars. Some have praised him for his strength, others because they think Putin would make the perfect boyfriend. Russia Beyond brings you 7 of the most flamboyant hits about Russia’s leader.
1. The One Like Putin
The first songs about Putin appeared pretty soon after he took office: "The One Like Putin" was one of them. It was performed in 2002 by three girls from the little-known band "Poyuschie Vmeste" (The Ones Singing Together). The track turned out to be their most popular.
The trio portrays Putin as the perfect boyfriend:
“Now I want one like Putin who is full of strength,
The one like Putin who would not drink alcohol,
The one like Putin who will not offend me,
The one like Putin who would not run away.”
2. In the Open Fields
The group "Bely Orel" (White Eagle) released their own song about the president at about the same time: "In the Open Fields". Here he’s portrayed not as a sex symbol but as a tough, reliable leader. Both this tune and "The One Like Putin" arrived shortly after Boris Yeltsin’s reign, so perhaps it’s no wonder the groups look upon Putin as both seductive and powerful: Two things his predecessor lacked towards the end of his second term.
The song touches on some heavy topics, including Princess Diana’s death, 9/11, and the Taliban movement - but the underlying message is an attempt to calm listeners down - Russia will protect its people!
“There’s a Grad missile system in the open fields, Putin and Stalingrad are behind us!”
3. VVP
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (VVP): This hit was a reaction to the political unrest that swept across Russia in 2011 to 2012, when there were parliamentary and presidential elections. Putin returned to the helm and Tajik singer Tolibjon Kurbankhanov’s accented lyrics paint VVP in a very positive light.
“VVP saved the country,
VVP defends,
VVP has lifted up Russia and develops it further,
VVP has saved the people,
VVP takes care and keeps stability.”
4. My Putin
The recent Ukrainian crisis and deteriorating relationship with the West sparked a new wave of patriotic songs hailing Putin as a saviour. Mashany’s video for "My Putin" shows the singer dressed in the colors of the Russian flag as she belts out the words to the song in a bright open space - but the action then cuts to a dark basement in which she is sporting the colors of Ukraine’s flag...not the most subtle of messages.
“You are Putin,
I wanna be with you,
I cry to you: My sweet Putin, take me with you, I wanna be with you.”
5. My Best Friend
Famous musicians also got behind Putin around the same time. The most popular Russian R&B artist Timati featured in the track "My Best Friend".
“All our country supports him.
You knew that he is a cool superhero.
Today I am a player, and my friend is with me.
He is the boss, so you know that everything will go according to the plan.
You know who your flagship is.”
