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Putin officially to accede to office of President of Russia

Putin, who held the presidency for two terms from 2000 to 2008, will become the Second and Fourth President of Russia

MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) — Vladimir Putin is officially to accede to the office of President of Russia here on Monday. The 59-year-old most authoritative Russian politician of the 21st century, who scored a convincing win in the very first round of the March 4 presidential elections, polled more than 63 percent of the vote. He will take over from Third President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, 46.

So, Putin, who held the presidency for two terms from 2000 to 2008, will become the Second and Fourth President of Russia. For the first time, the term of presidential powers, in accordance with the amendment introduced to the Constitution, will be six years, not four as was previously the case.

A ceremony marking a transfer of authority from the incumbent President to the President-elect is to commence in St Andrew Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace at noon -- exactly on the same day and hour as the ceremonies held on the occasion of the previous inaugurations of Vladimir Putin in 2000 and 2004 and that of Dmitry Medvedev in 2008.

Putin is to arrive at the Grand Kremlin Palace, mount up the ceremonial staircase and go through St George and St Alexander Halls to St Andrew one where the incumbent Head ofState, the Speakers of the Houses of Parliament, and the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court will be awaiting the President-elect.

The President-elect will take an oath of office upon putting his right hand on the Constitution. Then the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court will announce the assumption of office by the new President of Russia.