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With his military on the offensive in Ukraine and all types of dissent inside Russia firmly suppressed, President Vladimir V. Putin is about to take heart stage this week at two main occasions that may showcase his dominance over the nation’s politics and his willpower to win in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Mr. Putin, 71, will formally start his fifth time period as Russia’s president in a extremely choreographed inauguration ceremony within the Kremlin. On Thursday, he’s to preside over the Victory Day parade in Red Square, an annual demonstration of army may that within the final two years sought to symbolically hyperlink Russia’s conflict in Ukraine with the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Kremlin can be anticipated to appoint a prime minister and 5 key ministers, together with international and protection, although the officers in these six posts could merely be renominated. The form of the subsequent Russian authorities will present alerts to the nation’s course within the coming years.
Mr. Putin received his fifth time period in March in a rubber-stamp election that Western nations dismissed as a sham. Regardless, the ceremony can be triumphal and stuffed with symbolism.
The nation’s lawmakers, regional governors, spiritual leaders, high-ranking officers and different company will look forward to Mr. Putin to reach on the Grand Kremlin Palace from the close by Senate Palace, the location of the presidential workplace.
Mr. Putin can be transported within the new upgraded model of his Russian-made limousine, state media reported, projecting the message that Russia is ready to maintain itself regardless of being largely minimize off from the Western markets.
As Mr. Putin enters, tons of of Russian officers and company can be standing on the perimeters whereas the orchestra will play a ceremonial tune. Mr. Putin will learn an oath, during which he’ll swear to “respect and safeguard the rights and freedoms of man and citizen.” He will then ship a brief speech.
This time, the ceremony will doubtless characteristic new components highlighting that Russia is a rustic waging a conflict in Ukraine. Soldiers and officers who’re collaborating in it are more likely to be among the many company.
The inauguration will happen solely two days earlier than an annual Victory Day parade. Unlike the earlier yr, when Russia was anxiously anticipating Ukraine’s counteroffensive, this yr Mr. Putin will watch tanks and troopers parade throughout Red Square in a way more emboldened state.
Since final fall, his troops have been on the offensive in Ukraine, steadily assaulting depleted Ukrainian defenses. Over the previous few weeks, Russia has been capturing one village after one other, threatening Ukraine’s logistical traces west of town of Avdiivka.
The outcomes of those advances have been showcased in Moscow, the place authorities have placed on show Western-supplied weaponry captured in Ukraine: tanks — their barrels bent downward to show defeat — armored autos and different gear.
“Our victory is inevitable!” one of many posters stated as individuals walked previous taking photos of American Abrams and German Leopard tanks, howitzers and mine sweepers. A message on a display screen stated: “Staff members of embassies of the U.S., Germany, France, and Poland can skip the road.”
Unlike parades earlier than the conflict, leaders of solely a handful of former Soviet states, and nations of restricted stature on worldwide enviornment, are anticipated to attend.
They embody leaders of Laos in Asia, Guinea-Bissau in Africa and Cuba within the Americas. The former Soviet states of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan have confirmed attendance.
Cabinet Shuffle
Over the previous weeks, authorities officers and Kremlin watchers have been guessing what Mr. Putin’s new cupboard and administration would appear to be. In a rustic the place bureaucratic posts are sometimes primarily based on private connections and loyalty, ministerial and different high-ranking positions within the Kremlin carry quite a lot of weight
By legislation, the cupboard of ministers has to resign after Mr. Putin is inaugurated. He will then must nominate to the State Duma, the decrease home of parliament, a candidate for the submit of prime minister who will then nominate authorities ministers.
Several key ministers, together with those chargeable for protection and international coverage, get nominated by Mr. Putin to be accepted by the Federation Council, the higher chamber of parliament.
There is not any indication that Mr. Putin will exchange Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; Sergei Okay. Shoigu, the protection minister; or Sergei V. Lavrov, the international minister. But there might be a shock. Even maintaining them would ship a strong message: that Mr. Putin believes he has a successful staff, and the Kremlin is glad with Russia’s present progress in Ukraine and its worldwide standing.
