Venezuelan, N. Korean, Thai leaders congratulate Putin on inauguration
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Putin officially begun his fifth term as president of Russia after being inaugurated in Moscow on Tuesday.
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Vladimir Putin arrives for his inauguration ceremony as Russian President in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia on May 7, 2024. (AP)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, among other international leaders, congratulated Vladimir Putin on his inauguration as President of Russia on Wednesday.
Putin officially begun his fifth term as president of Russia after being inaugurated in Moscow on Tuesday, in a ceremony that took place at the Grand Kremlin Palace.
During the ceremony, Putin took an oath to serve the nation and its people, placing one hand on a special copy of the constitution used specifically for inaugurations. The document used this time was updated to include amendments adopted in 2020 and to reflect the incorporation of four former Ukrainian regions that voted in referendums in 2022 to join Russia.
On X, Maduro stated: "On behalf of the Venezuelan people, I congratulate Vladimir Putin, who has taken the oath of Russian presidential office for the fifth time. My respect and admiration for the Russian people, who have chosen to resolutely follow the path of unity and peace. Continue your leadership, always relying on the development and well-being of your country. Congratulations!"
En nombre del pueblo de Venezuela, felicito a Vladimir Putin, quien por 5ta vez se ha juramentado como Presidente de la Federación de Rusia. Mi respeto y admiración al pueblo ruso que decidió avanzar con determinación por el camino de la unión y la Paz. Sigue adelante con ese… pic.twitter.com/DIBJjOn9rl
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) May 7, 2024
Kim reportedly wrote a letter to Putin in which he "warmly congratulated" the Russian president and wished him "great successes in his responsible work for Russia and its people," according to North Korean state-run news agency KCNA.
In a congratulatory message, the Thai king expressed his optimism that Russia-Thailand friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in commerce, investment, energy, and tourism will develop under Putin's leadership.
"I wish to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes for your good health, happiness and fulfillment in the discharge of your immense responsibilities and duties of State for the peace, well-being and prosperity of the Russian Federation and her people. Such resounding election mandate that Your Excellency have received is a clear reaffirmation of the people's trust and confidence in your leadership and policies," Vajiralongkorn expressed.
This year is significant because several Western nations and the EU chose to boycott the ceremony. These governments asserted that this year's Russian presidential election, where Putin secured an unprecedented 87.28% of the vote, was not conducted fairly or freely.
This inauguration protocol was first introduced in 1996 during Boris Yeltsin's second term.
