First inauguration of Vladimir Putin
On the 7th of May 2000, Vladimir Putin took the presidential oath of Russia inside the Grand Kremlin Palace, the first inauguration ever held there. The ceremony lasted exactly one hour. Boris Yeltsin, already a former president, was formally invited as a guest and still took part as the outgoing head of state.
That overlap between a departed president and a newly sworn one raises an obvious question: what filled that single hour inside the Kremlin walls? And why did a ceremony meant for a different hall end up moved into this one?
Boris Yeltsin resigned as President of Russia on the 31st of December 1999, before the year came to a close. Vladimir Putin, then prime minister, became Acting President of Russia in his place.
Putin went on to win the 2000 Russian presidential election with more than fifty percent of the votes. He did not take office immediately, waiting two months after the election before the formal ceremony.
That formal ceremony was originally set for an entirely different building.
State Kremlin Palace hosted the original plan for the ceremony, until Putin asked for it to move to the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Soldiers of the Kremlin Regiment opened the proceedings, carrying in Andrew's hall flag of Russia and the flag of the president of Russia. They also brought a special copy of the Russian Constitution and the sign of the president of Russia, passing through St. George and Alexander Halls.
Four officials took their places on the podium inside St. Andrew Hall. They were Marat Baglai, President of the Constitutional Court, and Yegor Stroyev, Chairman of the Federation Council. Two more joined them: Gennady Seleznyov, Chairman of the State Duma, and Alexander Veshnyakov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission.
Vladimir Putin then arrived at the Kremlin and entered the Grand Kremlin Palace. Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, was invited into St. Andrew's Hall.
With the first strike of the Kremlin chimes, Putin walked through St. George and Alexander Halls to reach the podium. Two speeches were about to begin there.
Alexander Veshnyakov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, delivered the first speech. He congratulated Putin on his election victory and confirmed the vote had followed Russian law.
Marat Baglai, President of the Constitutional Court, spoke second, calling on Putin to take the presidential oath of Russia.
After Putin recited the text of the oath, the national anthem of Russia sounded. A copy of the presidential standard rose over the dome of the Kremlin Senate at the same moment.
Boris Yeltsin then delivered a speech of his own, congratulating Putin, wishing him success, and encouraging him to keep building a new democratic Russia. Putin answered with his first speech as President of Russia.
Putin left St. Andrew's Hall to the song "Glory," set to music by Mikhail Glinka, while an artillery salute sounded outside. At Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin, Yeltsin then introduced the Kremlin Regiment to Putin, passing him the authority of Supreme Commander.
That handover at Cathedral Square meant Putin now held the title of Supreme Commander even before he and Yeltsin turned to accept congratulations together.
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Common questions
When did Vladimir Putin's first presidential inauguration take place?
Vladimir Putin's first inauguration took place on the 7th of May 2000. The ceremony lasted exactly one hour.
Where was Vladimir Putin's first inauguration held?
Vladimir Putin's first inauguration was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the first inauguration ever held there. It had originally been scheduled at the State Kremlin Palace before Putin requested the venue change.
Did Boris Yeltsin attend Vladimir Putin's first inauguration?
Boris Yeltsin attended Vladimir Putin's first inauguration as a formally invited guest, even though he had already resigned as president on the 31st of December 1999. He took part in the ceremony as the outgoing president.
What percentage of the vote did Vladimir Putin win before his first inauguration?
Vladimir Putin won the 2000 Russian presidential election with more than fifty percent of the votes. He took office two months after that election, at his first inauguration.
Who called on Vladimir Putin to take the presidential oath at his first inauguration?
Marat Baglai, President of the Constitutional Court of Russia, called on Vladimir Putin to take the presidential oath. Alexander Veshnyakov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, had spoken first, congratulating Putin on his election victory.
What happened after Vladimir Putin took the oath at his first inauguration?
After Vladimir Putin took the oath, the national anthem of Russia sounded and a copy of the presidential standard was raised over the dome of the Kremlin Senate. Boris Yeltsin then gave a speech, Putin gave his first speech as president, and Yeltsin introduced him to the Kremlin Regiment at Cathedral Square as the new Supreme Commander.
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