st andrew's throne hall. there he is, just arriving to salutes and applause from those in attendance. let's listen in. triumphant music plays, commentators speaks in russian. this is what has become known as the long walk as vladimir putin walks through the grand kremlin palace to the st andrew's throne hall. back in march vladimir putin won practically unopposed another term in the most controversial of his elections yet.

it was condemned by the west as glaringly unfair and undemocratic. washington and the european union are boycotting the kremlin ceremony, although france and some other eu states have sent an envoy despite a plea not to do so by ukraine. with me is andrei 0stalski, the former editor of bbc russian. take us through what we are looking at. , , , ., ~ at. this is the first time that mr putin is swearing _ at. this is the first time that mr putin is swearing his _ at. this is the first time that mr putin is swearing his allegiance| at. this is the first time that mr. putin is swearing his allegiance to the constitution and the people of russia. it sounds and looks, i think, quite different in essence to the previous occasions. although again we see all this glamour, this grandeur, the gold, the soldier and incredibly beautiful uniforms with the high hats, it all looks like putin puts my personal triumph. but

this is the first time the president has been elected, if we can call it that, during a war that you is waging against its neighbour. we are auoin to waging against its neighbour. we are going to cross _ waging against its neighbour. we are going to cross live _ waging against its neighbour. we are going to cross live to _ waging against its neighbour. we are going to cross live to those _ going to cross live to those pictures, where the official swearing—in is about to take place. translation: d0 swearing-in is about to take place. translation:— swearing-in is about to take place. translation: , ., ., ~ translation: do you take the oath in accordance with _ translation: do you take the oath in accordance with the _ translation: do you take the oath in accordance with the constitution? - translation: do you take the oath in accordance with the constitution? i - accordance with the constitution? i invite you to take the oath. translation: i invite you to take the oath. translation:— invite you to take the oath. translation: , ., . , translation: i swear when exercising the owers translation: i swear when exercising the powers of— translation: i swear when exercising the powers of the _ translation: i swear when exercising the powers of the president _ translation: i swear when exercising the powers of the president of - translation: i swear when exercising the powers of the president of the - the powers of the president of the russian _ the powers of the president of the russian federation to respect and protect— russian federation to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and _ protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to observe and protect— man and citizen, to observe and protect the _ man and citizen, to observe and protect the constitution of the russian — protect the constitution of the russian federation, to protect the

sovereignty and independence, the security— sovereignty and independence, the security and integrity of the state and to _ security and integrity of the state and to faithfully serve the people. vladimir— and to faithfully serve the people. vladimir putin has become president of russia. applause choir sings.

singing continues.

applause translation: distinguished citizens of russia, ladies _ translation: distinguished citizens of russia, ladies and _ translation: distinguished citizens of russia, ladies and gentlemen, - of russia, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, after these very impressive moments of being sworn in, i impressive moments of being sworn in. i should — impressive moments of being sworn in, i should like to, from the bottom — in, i should like to, from the bottom of— in, i should like to, from the bottom of my heart, thank all the citizens— bottom of my heart, thank all the citizens from all over russia. it is

a great _ citizens from all over russia. it is a great honour for me to address the homeland, _ a great honour for me to address the homeland, and particularly to the heroes— homeland, and particularly to the heroes of— homeland, and particularly to the heroes of the special military operation, those fighting for the homeland. i thank you very much for giving _ homeland. i thank you very much for giving me _ homeland. i thank you very much for giving me your trust and confidence. i am grateful to every citizen of russia — i am grateful to every citizen of russia in— i am grateful to every citizen of russia. in the text of the oath which — russia. in the text of the oath which i — russia. in the text of the oath which i have just sworn is the essence _ which i have just sworn is the essence of the priorities of the russian — essence of the priorities of the russian federation president, that is to protect the constitution and to save _ is to protect the constitution and to save the country. this is a great honour— to save the country. this is a great honour and — to save the country. this is a great honour and responsibility and it is this which— honour and responsibility and it is this which has determined all of my work in _ this which has determined all of my work in previous years, and i am sure _ work in previous years, and i am sure that — work in previous years, and i am sure that in _ work in previous years, and i am sure that in the future i will be adhering — sure that in the future i will be adhering to these priorities of

protecting the country as much as possible — protecting the country as much as possible i— protecting the country as much as possible. i would like to express the firm — possible. i would like to express the firm conviction that we will be determining, only we will be determining, only we will be determining the fate of today's russia — determining the fate of today's russia and indeed the russia of the future _ russia and indeed the russia of the future we. — russia and indeed the russia of the future. we, the citizens of russia, had taken — future. we, the citizens of russia, had taken the right path. this is a huge _ had taken the right path. this is a huge responsibility and icn that a profound — huge responsibility and icn that a profound understanding of our fate and the _ profound understanding of our fate and the whole idea of protecting our values _ and the whole idea of protecting our values and _ and the whole idea of protecting our values and security. we will cross this, _ values and security. we will cross this, we _ values and security. we will cross this, we will overcome this very difficult — this, we will overcome this very difficult period, this turning point period. _

difficult period, this turning point period, and we will pursue our long-term _ period, and we will pursue our long—term plans and priorities, but first of— long—term plans and priorities, but first of all— long—term plans and priorities, but first of all we have two save the people — first of all we have two save the people of— first of all we have two save the people of the country. we have to preserve — people of the country. we have to preserve our values and traditions and particularly protect voluntary non-and — and particularly protect voluntary non—and religious organisations in civil societv — non—and religious organisations in civil society. —— non—state and religious— civil society. —— non—state and religious organisations. it must be targeted _ religious organisations. it must be targeted and realisable. we will be open to— targeted and realisable. we will be open to cooperation with all countries who see in russia and honest— countries who see in russia and honest partner. we will not refuse or reject _ honest partner. we will not refuse or reject any kind of dialogue with the western world. we are determined to parry— the western world. we are determined to parry aggression and to

particularly counter those who are aggressive towards our country. i repeat _ aggressive towards our country. i repeat that what we are intent on is the strategic stability of the countrv _ the strategic stability of the country. respecting the interest of all of— country. respecting the interest of all of us _ country. respecting the interest of all of us aren't on the principle of parity, _ all of us aren't on the principle of parity, we — all of us aren't on the principle of parity, we will begin, we will continue _ parity, we will begin, we will continue to work on a multipolar world _ continue to work on a multipolar world the — continue to work on a multipolar world. the world is changing very, very fast, — world. the world is changing very, very fast, and we have to become competitive and dynamic, and whole new horizons are opening up before russia _ new horizons are opening up before russia we — new horizons are opening up before russia. we have learned lessons and we must _ russia. we have learned lessons and we must not — russia. we have learned lessons and we must not forget the inner values of our— we must not forget the inner values of our country. we had to make sure

that the _ of our country. we had to make sure that the new — of our country. we had to make sure that the new system is stable and sustainable against any kind of threat — sustainable against any kind of threat and we must observe consistency in the protection of the independence of our country. our state _ independence of our country. our state system must be flexible and it must he _ state system must be flexible and it must be innovative for the future. reliability— must be innovative for the future. reliability and mutual responsibility, sensibility, nobility— responsibility, sensibility, nobility and courage, these are the watchwords which should guide us. we have shown. _ watchwords which should guide us. we have shown, i think, the faithfulness to the country, the lovaitv— faithfulness to the country, the loyalty to — faithfulness to the country, the loyalty to the country, the determination and the professionalism of everybody, particularly those involved in the economic— particularly those involved in the economic life of the country. we have _

economic life of the country. we have to — economic life of the country. we have to make sure that we bring up the younger generations of the country— the younger generations of the country in _ the younger generations of the country in that same spirit. a youth which _ country in that same spirit. a youth which is _ country in that same spirit. a youth which is determined to make sure that the _ which is determined to make sure that the world is based on international cohesion and agreement. i will do absolutely everything in my power tojustify your trust — everything in my power tojustify yourtrust. i everything in my power tojustify your trust. i should use all the your trust. ishould use all the powers— your trust. i should use all the powers confirmed in the constitution of the _ powers confirmed in the constitution of the president to do this. and all of the president to do this. and all of this, _ of the president to do this. and all of this, of— of the president to do this. and all of this, of course, depends to the greatest — of this, of course, depends to the greatest extent on our team work, on our cohesion. _ greatest extent on our team work, on our cohesion. we have to defend the country— our cohesion. we have to defend the country and — our cohesion. we have to defend the country and do that to the utmost. and all— country and do that to the utmost. and all of— country and do that to the utmost. and all of this is in the service of our millennial history. we have

always— our millennial history. we have always put the fatherland in the very first — always put the fatherland in the very first place, in the first prioritv _ very first place, in the first priority. we have to be loyal to our country _ priority. we have to be loyal to our country and — priority. we have to be loyal to our country and our people, to the motherland. and those are the commitments and virtues which should inspire _ commitments and virtues which should inspire us _ commitments and virtues which should inspire us today in planning for the future _ inspire us today in planning for the future as— inspire us today in planning for the future as well, particularly with regard — future as well, particularly with regard to — future as well, particularly with regard to the new projects and plans of the _ regard to the new projects and plans of the future. they have to become dynamic _ of the future. they have to become dynamic. still we are a great and mightv_ dynamic. still we are a great and mighty people and we will realise everything that we have planned, and we will— everything that we have planned, and we will overcome together.

applause triumphant music, choir sings. studio: this is the scene as russian president vladimir putin is sworn

into office at this lavish kremlin ceremony for a fifth term, with more power than ever. the 71—year—old has ruled russia since the turn securing his six—year mandate in march after winning presidential elections devoid of all opposition. he referenced first of all what he called the special military operation which is of course its war on ukraine. he said he wanted to honour all of those fighting for the motherland. he also said he wanted to protect the constitution and save the country. let's bring in andrei 0stalski, the former editor of bbc russian, who has been listening. what stood out to you from his inaugural address?— what stood out to you from his inaugural address? first of all,... i think inaugural address? first of all,... i think he — inaugural address? first of all,... i think he really _ inaugural address? first of all,... i think he really looks _ inaugural address? first of all,... i think he really looks like - inaugural address? first of all,... i think he really looks like a - inaugural address? first of all,... i think he really looks like a veryl i think he really looks like a very angry man, very determined, may be,

dangerous. that is the thing he emanates to my mind. look at the contrast between his oath, which was written in yeltsin's time in the 90s, and his speech. the presidential oath which is enshrined in the constitution, by the way, starts with the words about defend and protect the human rights of the russian citizens, while he immediately referred to at the start of his speech to the war, which equalled the special military operation. he didn't talk about human rights and freedoms at all, didn't mention them, which is a very important sign of the kremlin's priorities. he also talked a lot about what she called to the glorious russian history. you can

sum up as part of his speech as, through what we here in america, make russia great again. he said russia is open to a dialogue with the west, but then accuse the west of conspiring against russia, practically waging aggression against russia and he said his main task is to save, this is the word he used, russians from this aggression. i thought it was interesting that pretty much as opening line of his address after being sworn in was a reference to honouring those fighting as he putted the homeland, referencing the special military operation, as he puts it, the war on ukraine. some people estimate the number of dead russian soldiers is 315,000, a pentagon source saying that a two weeks ago. how much support as they are in russia,

internally, for this war? there is a lot of sopport. _ internally, for this war? there is a lot of support, although _ internally, for this war? there is a lot of support, although you - internally, for this war? there is a lot of support, although you can i lot of support, although you can easily see it has been induced by the television propaganda. why i am saying this, watch any vox pops done in russia, talk to people and they are just parroting what they hear on television, word by word. it can hardly be seen as support which comes from people's hearts. the propaganda is relentless. no other nation would manage to sustain this. if there was such a relentless propaganda in any country in the world, in a few years' time or a few months' time the population would start repeating the mantra is that we hear. it is working quite well, unfortunately. it really surprises me. there are millions and millions

of russians who managed to defend their mentality from what is going on. they manage to still remain critical of what they see as an unfair, unjust war in the rigged elections. he unfair, un'ust war in the rigged elections. ., ~ unfair, un'ust war in the rigged elections. . ~ ., elections. he talked about saving the country. _ elections. he talked about saving the country, protecting _ elections. he talked about saving the country, protecting the - the country, protecting the constitution, he says we will overcome this difficult period. he is telling millions of russians he is telling millions of russians he is saving the country, but who from the? it is saving the country, but who from the? , . ., ., the? it is quite clear from the contents of — the? it is quite clear from the contents of his _ the? it is quite clear from the contents of his speech - the? it is quite clear from the contents of his speech that i the? it is quite clear from the| contents of his speech that he accused the west of arrogance and scheming against russia and this is the message that russians get every day from the itv screens and other mass media. yes, no doubt mr putin is trying to mobilise the society for this existential struggle

against the west and their attempts to encroach on russia. he against the west and their attempts to encroach on russia.— to encroach on russia. he stressed that he is open _ to encroach on russia. he stressed that he is open to _ to encroach on russia. he stressed that he is open to relations - to encroach on russia. he stressed that he is open to relations with . that he is open to relations with other countries, he says we do not shed to dialogue with the west but they had to make that choice. yes. they had to make that choice. yes, and the only _ they had to make that choice. yes, and the only choice _ they had to make that choice. yes, and the only choice that _ they had to make that choice. yes and the only choice that logically comes out of this speech would be to allow russia to conquer ukraine. and also push the boundaries of security alignment that exist. i also push the boundaries of security alignment that exist.— alignment that exist. i want to ask ou to no alignment that exist. i want to ask you to go back— alignment that exist. i want to ask you to go back in _ alignment that exist. i want to ask you to go back in time, _ alignment that exist. i want to ask you to go back in time, he - alignment that exist. i want to ask you to go back in time, he has - alignment that exist. i want to ask. you to go back in time, he has been sworn in for another six years, his fifth term in office, he is 71 years old. back in his first few terms there was a lot of optimism around him, he was far more of a benign figure internationally and seen as having had a positive impact on the

country. having had a positive impact on the count . ~ ., . ., having had a positive impact on the count . . . . . . , country. what changed? there has been a lot of— country. what changed? there has been a lot of change _ country. what changed? there has been a lot of change and _ country. what changed? there has been a lot of change and all- country. what changed? there has been a lot of change and all of- country. what changed? there has been a lot of change and all of my| been a lot of change and all of my russian contact emphasise the speed of this change. it has accelerated so dramatically since the start of the war and all of this change is going in one direction, the society is changing, mr putin said, with some pride in his voice, that russia is changing. we can see that nothing is changing. we can see that nothing is left of the russian civil society, it has been practically crushed. hardly a day passes without news of arrests, trials of people being sent to jail for long terms, sometimesjust for being sent to jail for long terms, sometimes just for expressing their position as to what is going on. they are in a position to —— of the war in ukraine. many of my contract

lately —— michael contact�*s lately started using the term fascism in terms of what russian society is becoming, where they hesitated to use it before. you can see this nationalist ideology which has become an obligatory thing for everybody, there is punishment you have to adhere to, any hints of dissent are not allowed and punished severely. we can see this massive repression happening on a daily basis and its intensity is increasing all the time. that is the change that was brought by the war, or you can say that it had its own logic, the tendency of the russian political development lately inevitably led to this war but both statements would probably be correct. it statements would probably be correct. , , ., . , correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is _ correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is less _

correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is less than _ correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is less than a _ correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is less than a year, - correct. it seems almost incredible now but it is less than a year, june | now but it is less than a year, june last year, but his position looked vulnerable. there was an attempted coup by the wagner leader who died in a helicopter crash. how has he shored up its position since then? because of the change we have been talking about, only the new dynamic changes can come from within the system, from within the dictatorship created. so relying on people like prigozhin undav wagner group, mr putin was taking a great risk which he probably did not appreciate how big that risk was —— and so on relying by people like prigozhin and the wagner group. then he was taken tjy the wagner group. then he was taken by surprise... the wagner group. then he was taken by surprise- - -— by surprise... sorry to interrupt ou, by surprise... sorry to interrupt you, president _ by surprise... sorry to interrupt you, president putin _ by surprise... sorry to interrupt you, president putin is - you, president putin is speaking again. we will come back to you

shortly. military band plays. instructions are given in russian.

military band plays. studio: a military parade outside the palace, as you can see, with president putin standing by and watching along with many decorating —— many dignitaries. let's go back to andrei, who is watching these pictures. how significant a moment is theirs for the russian people? you would be really hard pressed to find a single russian six months ago over one year ago who would tell you that anybody else but putin would

become the president, the next president of russia once again. it was totally predetermined, so nobody really doubted that whatever the method is required to achieve this goal, putin will be proclaimed the president. so this is not something very important. some of my friends and people still in russia are choking or maybe halfjoking that this ceremony would be an oath of allegiance of the russian population to its leader, to its new tsar, rather than the other way round —— some of my friends and people still in russia are choking, or maybe half joking. the elections can hardly be called elections, there was absolutely no choice. all the candidates with the potential to get

my support were disqualified at an early stage, the propaganda relentlessly praised the merits of mr putin from early morning until late at night. there was absolutely no chance that this inauguration would be held by somebody else but mr putin. this was a show. to some russians like the beautiful shows, the very long red carpets, the golden domes, the presidential regiment marching in front of him? yes, of course. that is an interesting spectacle. but politically i don't think this is an important event for anybody. ianthem politically i don't think this is an important event for anybody. when we talk about the — important event for anybody. when we talk about the opposition, _ important event for anybody. when we talk about the opposition, there - important event for anybody. when we talk about the opposition, there is - talk about the opposition, there is none left in the country, all exiled, in prison or killed. alexei navalny, his most vociferous and well—known opponents, died in a siberianjail a couple of well—known opponents, died in a siberian jail a couple of months

ago. his widow, yulia navalnaya, has called putin today a liar, a thief, a murderer, this was ahead of his inauguration. she very much pointed the finger directly at him for his husband's death, or murder, as she putted. when alexei navalny died, some people came out to lay flowers in support of him and when he was buried, there were hundreds of people who turned out in the face of a very difficult situation and a further crackdown by the authorities, but it showed... i don't know how much support, how much support was therefore the likes of novell knee across russia? it was of novell knee across russia? it was reall bi , of novell knee across russia? it was really big, significant. _ of novell knee across russia? it was really big, significant. -- _ of novell knee across russia? it was really big, significant. -- how- of novell knee across russia? it was really big, significant. -- how much| really big, significant. -- how much su ort really big, significant. -- how much sopport was — really big, significant. -- how much support was therefore _ really big, significant. -- how much support was therefore the - really big, significant. -- how much support was therefore the likes - really big, significant. -- how much support was therefore the likes of l support was therefore the likes of alexei navalny across russia? alexei navalny would _ alexei navalny across russia? alexei navalny would have _ alexei navalny across russia? alexei navalny would have won _ alexei navalny across russia? alexei navalny would have won three - navalny would have won three elections provided there would have been free television coverage that

he would have access to the tv screens for some time, i think that very many russians would feel sympathetic to his message, anti—corruption message, mostly linked to the russians to try to deal with a fairer society and so on and so forth. he would never have been given a chance, no way, absolutely. you can only dream of that and it would be totally unrealistic. but hundreds, you said, i think thousands really came to mr navalny�*s funeral, and that was of course a very brave thing to do. the official propaganda was trying to scare people away from that, hinting that might have been mass arrests and lots of those who would dare to come would end up injail. it didn't happen, the authorities did not do that in the end, but those fellows

and that they clearly show there is and that they clearly show there is a lot of support for the opposition, for an alternative russia. and also a friend of mine in russia says for everyone who attended those funerals, and another thousand who would love to do that but were afraid. ., ., , afraid. you referred to president putin as being — afraid. you referred to president putin as being tsar _ afraid. you referred to president putin as being tsar like - afraid. you referred to president putin as being tsar like in - afraid. you referred to president putin as being tsar like in his - putin as being tsar like in his behaviour, i write one characterisation comparing him or to stalin, saying putinism is an incarnation of stalinism in the way his power is personalised and the political repression he oversees. would you agree? of course, it reminds everybody of stalin's time. in of course, it reminds everybody of stalin's time. in terms of course, it reminds everybody of stalin's time. in of course, it reminds everybody of stalin's time. in terms of proportion and scale, he has not quite reached the pinnacle of the late 30s, when mass protests were happening. but there is a fear in

russia that it will