Presidential inauguration: Russia's Vladmir Putin prepares to be sworn in

Russian President Vlamdir Putin is being inaugurated in the palace of the Kremlin.

This marks the beginning of another six-year term after being leading the country for almost a quarter of a century (president, PM then president again).

He claimed he won Russia's presidential elections in March by a landslide. Under his rule, Russia has increasingly cracked down on dissent.

Ambassadors were the only foreign dignitaries invited to the ceremony - and only the French ambassador confirmed his attendance.