Vladimir Putin has been sworn in for his fifth term as Russia’s president in front of dignitaries, celebrities and friends, including US actor Steven Seagal and a biker gang leader known as ‘The Surgeon’.
The dictator was first sworn in as president almost a quarter of a century ago in May 2000, vowing at the time to ‘preserve and develop democracy’ and to ‘take care of Russia.’
Since then, he has precipitated his nation’s full-scale conflict with Ukraine, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of Russian lives, and ruthlessly put an end to any resistance by arresting, killing, or manipulating the most recent falsified election.
Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya called President Vladimir Putin a ‘liar, a thief (and) a murderer’ in a statement ahead of his inauguration ceremony.
‘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.
During the event inside the glittering Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin laid his hand on the Russian Constitution and promised to safeguard it as a gathering of hand-picked guests looked on.
They included fellow politicians but also Putin’s friends, such as Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, who received his Russian citizenship in 2017.
The two became friends because they both loved martial arts and last year, Putin awarded the Hard to Kill and Under Siege star an Order of Friendship medal.
The 72-year-old hailed his friend as the ‘greatest world leader’ and claimed that the future in Russia would ‘be the best’ under the dictator’s rule.
Biker club leader Alexander Zaldastanov was also among attendees and arrived at the ceremony clad in leather with his signature unruly beard and long hair.
The patriotic punk has described himself as a ‘friend’ of Putin and has been put under Western sanctions for his support for Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Also in attendance was Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, a crony of Putin’s who has been the subject of claims that he is terminally ill in recent weeks.
The Head of the Chechen Republic appeared to struggle up the stairs into the hall as he arrived flanked by his aides, who helped him to pull off his jacket when they reached the top.
More than 2,500 people had been invited to the event, according to Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president’s spokesperson, and they applauded him as he entered the auditorium.
I used to enjoy the occasional Steven Seagal film. Can’t say I’d watch his films now though, and I couldn’t figure out if the guy was wearing a hat or a wig. He looked like Count Dracula to me!
Steven Seagal thinks he is his film character and it’s all a bit sad and pathetic really, and in reality, he’s far more like the bullies he used to beat up in his films.
However, Vladimir Putin will always win since he appears to eliminate any opposition and tamper with the election process to ensure his victory. He is similar to many of the old Roman Emporers who slaughtered anybody who challenged them, polluted everything, intimidated people, and gave themselves the much-needed ego boost. Russia isn’t the problem, he is!
Vladimir Putin is said by some to genuinely care about his people. By sending young people to fight on the front lines of battle, he is not showing his people that he cares.
What constitutes normal brain activity in Steven Seagal’s skull is left to speculation, particularly given his lifelong support of a Russian ruler who spends much of his waking hours ignoring the state of living in his nation and planning his next target. No politician ought to be permitted to occupy the highest position of authority for so long.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 