Vladimir Putin could surpass Joseph Stalin as Russia’s longest-serving leader since Catherine the Great if he completes this latest term as president.
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term as Russian president at a palace in Moscow in front of a crowd of faces – including actor Steven Seagal and the leader of a biker gang.
“We are a united and great people and together we will overcome all obstacles, realise all our plans, together we will win,” he said after being sworn in on Tuesday.
At the ceremony in the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, Mr Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it as a crowd of hand-picked dignitaries looked on.
A number of famous faces were in the crowd waiting to see the Kremlin leader sworn in once again. They included:
American actor (and now Russian citizen) Steven Seagal
The US actor, known for films such as Under Siege and On Deadly Ground, is an ally of Mr Putin.
In 2018 he was appointed as Russia’s special envoy to the US.
Head of the Chechen Republic, and Putin ally, Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov has ruled Chechnya, a federal republic of Russia, since 2007 and enjoys considerable leeway from Mr Putin in return for ensuring the region’s stability.
He has sent thousands of his fighters to Ukraine.
Biker gang leader Alexander Zaldostanov
Known as ‘the surgeon’, Alexander Zaldostanov is a leader of the Night Wolves biker gang and has been accused by the US of involvement in the annexation of Crimea.
Actor Ivan Okhlobystin
A former priest, Ivan Okhlobystin is a Russian actor and director.