Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as Russian president yesterday. He also nominated his predecessor Vladimir Putin as prime minister, ushering in an unprecedented period of dual rule.
"I believe my most important aim will be to protect civil and economic freedom," he said. The new leader inherits a booming economy fuelled by high oil prices and a sobering set of challenges.
Medvedev, a 42-year-old former corporate lawyer and longtime Putin ally, placed his hand on a red, leather-bound copy of the Russian constitution to take the oath of office before 2,000 invited guests.
Minutes earlier, Putin had entered the Kremlin alone and had thanked the Russian people for their trust and support, encouraging them to support Medvedev. Putin named Medvedev as his preferred successor last December, ensuring his victory in the March polls.
However, the Kremlin leader will retain major political influence after quitting, both in his role as the prime minister and as head of the ruling United Russia party which controls Parliament.
The constitution, adopted under Yeltsin, gives the president strong powers, including the right to define Russia's foreign and domestic policies, appoint key ministers and control security and defence agencies.
Putin, who has presided over eight years of economic growth, said he will focus on making Russia one of the top seven global economies by 2020.
NEW PRESIDENT
A diminutive, softly-spoken former corporate lawyer, Russia's new President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is an unlikely figure to lead the biggest country on earth.
The first Russian leader in generations to have worked in the private sector, Medvedev, 42, secured the post after the popular outgoing leader Vladimir Putin endorsed him as his preferred successor.
