Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated Mikhail Mishustin, a 53-year-old chief of the Russian Federal Tax Service for the position of Russian prime minister after Dmitry Medvedev resigned on January 15. Watch report:

WION Dispatch: Putin appoints Mikhail Mishustin as PM of Russia

Key dates in President Vladimir Putin's life: 1952 - 2020

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev submitted his resignation to President Vladimir Putin on January 15. Putin thanked Medvedev for his service but noted that the prime minister's Cabinet failed to fulfil all the objectives set for it. Medvedev has served as Russia's prime minister since 2012. He spent four years before that as president in 2008-2012.

Fineprint: Russian PM resigns after Putin plans sweeping constitutional changes

Amid doping row, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday admitted that the country has committed a sin and urged the authorities to&nbsp;get tougher on&nbsp;doping problems.&nbsp;

Russia faces the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-seeks-russia-ban-over-doping-data-manipulation-264626">possibility of being banned </a>from all sporting competitions including the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/more-tokyo-olympic-events-rescheduled-due-to-heat-concern-266444">Tokyo 2020</a> after a key World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) committee recommended a four-year ban on the country for manipulating laboratory data.

In an annual televised question-and-answer session with TV journalists,&nbsp;Medvedev said that Russia should get serious about rooting out cheats.&nbsp;

"We do have a problem with doping and this is unacceptable," he said.&nbsp;

"We should adopt a tougher line on this matter, towards those taking the decisions on the use of these substances."

"Here we have committed a sin," he acknowledged, while adding "Are other countries without sin?"&nbsp;

Medvedev argued that athletes should not be punished for the mistakes of others&nbsp;while calling the Russian doping scandal an "endless anti-Russian TV series."&nbsp;

WADA is set to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-moves-crucial-exco-meeting-to-lausanne-from-paris-265865">meet on Monday</a> in Lausanne for the crucial executive committee meeting to discuss the recommended four-year ban.&nbsp;

WADA’s Compliance Review Committee (CRC) called for the proposed sanctions after the Russian Anti Doping Agency (RUSADA) was found to be non-compliant after the data handed over by the tainted Moscow laboratory was found to be "neither complete nor fully authentic".

The full disclosure of data was a key condition of Russia’s reinstatement in 2018 after a nearly three-year-long ban which was followed by the revelation of vast state-supported doping programs in the country.&nbsp;

The four-year ban was one of the several "strong proposed consequences" by CRC over Russia which is to start "on the date on which the decision that Rusada is non-compliant becomes final".

RUSADA’s chief Yury Ganus said last week that he expected WADA to uphold the recommendations as “that’s the reality”. &nbsp;

The recommendations are the latest in Russia’s doping saga which is being dragged since 2015 which found more than 1000 Russian athletes being benefited from the state-supported doping program in the period of 2011-2015, a period that included 2014 winter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympic-chief-says-will-do-everything-to-ensure-russia-at-2020-games-265073">Olympics</a> that were held in Russia.

Amid doping row, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday admitted that the country has committed a sin and urged the authorities to get tougher on doping problems.

Amid doping row, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday admitted that the country has committed a sin and urged the authorities to get tougher on doping problems. Russia faces the possibility of being banned from all sporting competitions including the Tokyo 2020 after a key World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) committee recommended a four-year ban on the country for manipulating laboratory data. In an annual televised question-and-answer session with TV journalists, Medvedev said that Russia should get serious about rooting out cheats. "We do have a problem with doping and this is unacceptable," he said. "We should adopt a tougher line on this matter, towards those taking the decisions on the use of these substances." "Here we have committed a sin," he acknowledged, while adding "Are other countries without sin?" Medvedev argued that athletes should not be punished for the mistakes of others while calling the Russian doping scandal an "endless anti-Russian TV series." WADA is set to meet on Monday in Lausanne for the crucial executive committee meeting to discuss the recommended four-year ban. WADA’s Compliance Review Committee (CRC) called for the proposed sanctions after the Russian Anti Doping Agency (RUSADA) was found to be non-compliant after the data handed over by the tainted Moscow laboratory was found to be "neither complete nor fully authentic". The full disclosure of data was a key condition of Russia’s reinstatement in 2018 after a nearly three-year-long ban which was followed by the revelation of vast state-supported doping programs in the country. The four-year ban was one of the several "strong proposed consequences" by CRC over Russia which is to start "on the date on which the decision that Rusada is non-compliant becomes final". RUSADA’s chief Yury Ganus said last week that he expected WADA to uphold the recommendations as “that’s the reality”. The recommendations are the latest in Russia’s doping saga which is being dragged since 2015 which found more than 1000 Russian athletes being benefited from the state-supported doping program in the period of 2011-2015, a period that included 2014 winter Olympics that were held in Russia.

'We have committed a sin', says Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev amid doping row

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth.

Employees of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption (FBK) "received a large sum of money from third parties which they knew was procured illegally," investigators said, estimating the laundered amount at one billion rubles ($15.3 million).

"Accomplices" of FBK "gave a legal appearance" to the funds by transferring them to bank accounts and ultimately to the accounts of the FBK, investigators said.

FBK has published numerous investigators about top Russian officials, with the most popular video about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev having been viewed over 31 million times on YouTube.

In pics : <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-look-at-two-weeks-of-mass-protests-and-crackdown-in-moscow-240444">A look at two weeks of mass protests and crackdown in Moscow</a>

The foundation asks supporters to donate money on its website to support its work.

News about the new probe broke just as Russian opposition was attempting a new protest in Moscow to demand fair access to elections, and dozens were detained by the numerous police presence

Russia's top opposition leader Navalny is currently serving 30 days behind bars for violating rules on public gatherings. Last weekend he was hospitalised with symptoms his doctor said looked like poisoning.

Several of his associates, including FBK lawyer <a href="Alexei Navalny">Lyubov Sobol, are also in police custody</a> over protests pertaining to next month's elections in Moscow, which most of the opposition has been barred from participating.

The opposition accuses Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a Vladimir Putin loyalist, of blocking all opposition from attempting to break his monopoly over the Moscow parliament in September polls.

On Thursday, FBK issued a video investigation about Sobyanin's deputy, accusing her of selling prime Moscow property to her family members at rock-bottom prices.

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth.

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth. Employees of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption (FBK) "received a large sum of money from third parties which they knew was procured illegally," investigators said, estimating the laundered amount at one billion rubles ($15.3 million). "Accomplices" of FBK "gave a legal appearance" to the funds by transferring them to bank accounts and ultimately to the accounts of the FBK, investigators said. FBK has published numerous investigators about top Russian officials, with the most popular video about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev having been viewed over 31 million times on YouTube. In pics : A look at two weeks of mass protests and crackdown in Moscow The foundation asks supporters to donate money on its website to support its work. News about the new probe broke just as Russian opposition was attempting a new protest in Moscow to demand fair access to elections, and dozens were detained by the numerous police presence Russia's top opposition leader Navalny is currently serving 30 days behind bars for violating rules on public gatherings. Last weekend he was hospitalised with symptoms his doctor said looked like poisoning. Several of his associates, including FBK lawyer Lyubov Sobol, are also in police custody over protests pertaining to next month's elections in Moscow, which most of the opposition has been barred from participating. The opposition accuses Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a Vladimir Putin loyalist, of blocking all opposition from attempting to break his monopoly over the Moscow parliament in September polls. On Thursday, FBK issued a video investigation about Sobyanin's deputy, accusing her of selling prime Moscow property to her family members at rock-bottom prices.

Russia launches probe against Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's anti-graft group

A charismatic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-hospitalised-for-allergic-reaction-239039">anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny</a> has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health.

The Yale-educated 43-year-old lawyer has been banned from state television and was barred from challenging Putin in a presidential election last year.

He has often been jailed and physically attacked, but has vowed to press ahead with his campaign to change Russia for the better.

Navalny has won a young fan base through viral videos exposing corruption among the elites and has more than two million followers on Twitter.

He has grabbed attention with his uncompromising rhetoric and coined phrases such as the "party of crooks and thieves" to slam the ruling party United Russia.

In 2011, the anti-corruption blogger led mass protests when tens of thousands took to the streets of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-arrested-at-moscow-protest-after-opposition-crackdown-238830">Moscow</a> to protest against vote-rigging in parliamentary elections.

Two years later the father of two stood for Moscow mayor, coming second against Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin.

In 2017, he accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of massive corruption in a YouTube documentary. That kick-started a fresh wave of protests across the country that was met with police violence and mass arrests.&nbsp;

The same year he had to travel to Spain for surgery after one of several street attacks left him nearly blind in one eye.

Brother jailed

Navalny has faced a series of legal cases, which supporters see as punishment for his activism.

In 2013, he was found guilty in an embezzlement case involving a timber deal and given a five-year suspended sentence that disqualified him from standing for public office.

The European Court of Human Rights threw out the verdict but a retrial issued Navalny the same sentence.

He then had to spend months under house arrest and was often kept incommunicado over another graft case linked to French cosmetics company Yves Rocher.

In 2014, he was given another suspended sentence, and his brother Oleg, a co-defendant, was jailed for three and a half years in a decision activist have compared to "hostage-taking".

Navalny has said he learned about political campaigning from watching the US television series "House of Cards" and once listed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-arnold-schwarzenegger-revive-80s-hollywood-classics-at-comic-con-237124">Hollywood actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger</a> among his heroes.

Navalny toured Russia ahead of the 2018 presidential election in an American-style campaign to rally his supporters.

But with the Kremlin tightly controlling the media, he remains a fringe figure for many Russians, who are exposed to the official portrayal of him as a Western stooge and convicted criminal.&nbsp;

Putin has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public, instead referring to him as "the person you mentioned", among other euphemisms, when asked directly about the opposition leader.

Eye-catching exposes 
&nbsp; 
While barred from mainstream politics, Navalny has kept trying to expose the lavish wealth of Russia's elites, broadcasting the findings of his investigations to millions of Russians on social media and YouTube.

Trawling through land registries and the filings of offshore companies, Navalny and his team have helped lay bare the mansions and hidden fortunes of high-ranking officials.&nbsp;

Among Navalny's most eye-catching exposes have been details on the palatial homes of Putin's allies in Russia and abroad including one kitted out with a vast climate-controlled storage room for fur coats in the residence of Vladimir Yakunin, former chief of Russia's national railways.

But despite tapping into discontent among a largely young urban middle class he is far from a unifying opposition figure and some have criticised his anti-immigrant nationalist stance.

Several members of Navalny's team have fought hard to get on the ballot for Moscow parliament elections in September, each managing to collect roughly 5,000 signatures from supporters. They have been barred from running, along with other pro-Kremlin politicians.

Last week Navalny was jailed for calling an unauthorised protest over the ban and on Sunday he was rushed to a hospital. His lawyer and doctor said he had been "poisoned." 
&nbsp;

A charismatic anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health.

A charismatic anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health. The Yale-educated 43-year-old lawyer has been banned from state television and was barred from challenging Putin in a presidential election last year. He has often been jailed and physically attacked, but has vowed to press ahead with his campaign to change Russia for the better. Navalny has won a young fan base through viral videos exposing corruption among the elites and has more than two million followers on Twitter. He has grabbed attention with his uncompromising rhetoric and coined phrases such as the "party of crooks and thieves" to slam the ruling party United Russia. In 2011, the anti-corruption blogger led mass protests when tens of thousands took to the streets of Moscow to protest against vote-rigging in parliamentary elections. Two years later the father of two stood for Moscow mayor, coming second against Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin. In 2017, he accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of massive corruption in a YouTube documentary. That kick-started a fresh wave of protests across the country that was met with police violence and mass arrests. The same year he had to travel to Spain for surgery after one of several street attacks left him nearly blind in one eye. Brother jailed Navalny has faced a series of legal cases, which supporters see as punishment for his activism. In 2013, he was found guilty in an embezzlement case involving a timber deal and given a five-year suspended sentence that disqualified him from standing for public office. The European Court of Human Rights threw out the verdict but a retrial issued Navalny the same sentence. He then had to spend months under house arrest and was often kept incommunicado over another graft case linked to French cosmetics company Yves Rocher. In 2014, he was given another suspended sentence, and his brother Oleg, a co-defendant, was jailed for three and a half years in a decision activist have compared to "hostage-taking". Navalny has said he learned about political campaigning from watching the US television series "House of Cards" and once listed Hollywood actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger among his heroes. Navalny toured Russia ahead of the 2018 presidential election in an American-style campaign to rally his supporters. But with the Kremlin tightly controlling the media, he remains a fringe figure for many Russians, who are exposed to the official portrayal of him as a Western stooge and convicted criminal. Putin has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public, instead referring to him as "the person you mentioned", among other euphemisms, when asked directly about the opposition leader. Eye-catching exposes While barred from mainstream politics, Navalny has kept trying to expose the lavish wealth of Russia's elites, broadcasting the findings of his investigations to millions of Russians on social media and YouTube. Trawling through land registries and the filings of offshore companies, Navalny and his team have helped lay bare the mansions and hidden fortunes of high-ranking officials. Among Navalny's most eye-catching exposes have been details on the palatial homes of Putin's allies in Russia and abroad including one kitted out with a vast climate-controlled storage room for fur coats in the residence of Vladimir Yakunin, former chief of Russia's national railways. But despite tapping into discontent among a largely young urban middle class he is far from a unifying opposition figure and some have criticised his anti-immigrant nationalist stance. Several members of Navalny's team have fought hard to get on the ballot for Moscow parliament elections in September, each managing to collect roughly 5,000 signatures from supporters. They have been barred from running, along with other pro-Kremlin politicians. Last week Navalny was jailed for calling an unauthorised protest over the ban and on Sunday he was rushed to a hospital. His lawyer and doctor said he had been "poisoned."

Alexei Navalny: The lawyer standing up to Russia's President Vladimir Putin

The Kremlin on Monday said it was "too early" to say whether it could work with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/angela-merkel-pledges-support-to-ukraine-after-volodymyr-zelensky-win-212597">Volodymyr Zelensky</a>, the comedian who was elected to the Ukraine presidency in a weekend vote.

"It's too early to talk about President (Vladimir) Putin congratulating Mr Zelensky, or about the possibility of working together. It will only be possible to judge based on real actions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov said Moscow "respects the choice of the Ukrainian people".&nbsp;

But he added that the fact that Ukrainian citizens living in Russia had been barred from participating in the vote "called into question the legitimacy of the election as a whole".&nbsp;

Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since a 2014 Kiev uprising ousted a pro-Kremlin leader. Russia that year annexed Crimea and has backed separatists in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 13,000 people.

Shortly after Zelensky's landslide victory on Sunday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the new leadership could be "a chance for improving cooperation with our country".

However, he said he was under "no illusions" about the president-elect.

Zelensky, whose sole political experience so far has been limited to playing the role of president in a TV show, has vowed to stick to the pro-European course set by his predecessor.

He has said he will also try to improve ties with Moscow.

The Kremlin on Monday said it was "too early" to say whether it could work with Volodymyr Zelensky, the comedian who was elected to the Ukraine presidency in a weekend vote.

The Kremlin on Monday said it was "too early" to say whether it could work with Volodymyr Zelensky, the comedian who was elected to the Ukraine presidency in a weekend vote. "It's too early to talk about President (Vladimir) Putin congratulating Mr Zelensky, or about the possibility of working together. It will only be possible to judge based on real actions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Peskov said Moscow "respects the choice of the Ukrainian people". But he added that the fact that Ukrainian citizens living in Russia had been barred from participating in the vote "called into question the legitimacy of the election as a whole". Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since a 2014 Kiev uprising ousted a pro-Kremlin leader. Russia that year annexed Crimea and has backed separatists in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 13,000 people. Shortly after Zelensky's landslide victory on Sunday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the new leadership could be "a chance for improving cooperation with our country". However, he said he was under "no illusions" about the president-elect. Zelensky, whose sole political experience so far has been limited to playing the role of president in a TV show, has vowed to stick to the pro-European course set by his predecessor. He has said he will also try to improve ties with Moscow.

Russia says 'too early' to say if can work with Ukraine's Zelensky

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britain-asks-chemical-watchdog-to-extend-novichok-probe-157630">UK government</a> for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury.

Stan and Caroline Sturgess, whose daughter <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/novichok-victim-recalls-oily-substance-in-perfume-bottle-154283">Dawn</a> died after coming into contact with a nerve agent allegedly used in last year's poisoning of Sergei Skripal, said they believed British authorities were withholding details of the incident.

"If anyone, I blame the government for putting Skripal in Salisbury," Stan Sturgess told The Guardian newspaper in the family's first interview since her death last July.

"I want justice from our own government. What are they hiding? I don't think they have given us all the facts."

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on March 4 slumped unconscious on a park bench in the centre of the quiet cathedral city Salisbury in southwest England.

Britain and Western allies have accused Russia of carrying out the poisoning using a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok, but Moscow has furiously denied any involvement.

The Skripals survived but Sturgess died after her partner gave her a discarded perfume bottle several months later that police think had been used to hold the toxin, and she sprayed it on her skin.

Stan Sturgess said the family have complicated feelings towards Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence colonel who was found guilty of passing state secrets to Britain and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006.&nbsp;

He was pardoned by then-president Dmitry Medvedev and released as part of a spy swap with the West in 2010, leading an apparently quiet life in Salisbury until last March.

"I don't know where Skripal is and I don't know what I'd do if I met him. He's still got his daughter," said Sturgess of the ex-spy, who has not been seen publicly in Britain since the attack.

Caroline Sturgess, Dawn's mother and a retired civil servant, told The Guardian the former spy's past made him a more legitimate target than their entirely innocent daughter.

"I can't take it personally," she said of the loss.

"It's sad they ended up in a coma but they weren't the true victims.

"He [Skripal] took risks -- he must have known there was a chance people were still after him."

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the UK government for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury.

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the UK government for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury. Stan and Caroline Sturgess, whose daughter Dawn died after coming into contact with a nerve agent allegedly used in last year's poisoning of Sergei Skripal, said they believed British authorities were withholding details of the incident. "If anyone, I blame the government for putting Skripal in Salisbury," Stan Sturgess told The Guardian newspaper in the family's first interview since her death last July. "I want justice from our own government. What are they hiding? I don't think they have given us all the facts." Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on March 4 slumped unconscious on a park bench in the centre of the quiet cathedral city Salisbury in southwest England. Britain and Western allies have accused Russia of carrying out the poisoning using a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok, but Moscow has furiously denied any involvement. The Skripals survived but Sturgess died after her partner gave her a discarded perfume bottle several months later that police think had been used to hold the toxin, and she sprayed it on her skin. Stan Sturgess said the family have complicated feelings towards Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence colonel who was found guilty of passing state secrets to Britain and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006. He was pardoned by then-president Dmitry Medvedev and released as part of a spy swap with the West in 2010, leading an apparently quiet life in Salisbury until last March. "I don't know where Skripal is and I don't know what I'd do if I met him. He's still got his daughter," said Sturgess of the ex-spy, who has not been seen publicly in Britain since the attack. Caroline Sturgess, Dawn's mother and a retired civil servant, told The Guardian the former spy's past made him a more legitimate target than their entirely innocent daughter. "I can't take it personally," she said of the loss. "It's sad they ended up in a coma but they weren't the true victims. "He [Skripal] took risks -- he must have known there was a chance people were still after him."

Parents of Novichok victim ask why UK settled ex-spy in Salisbury

President Vladimir Putin stuck with his long-serving prime minister in his first act after being sworn in for a new term on Monday, signalling that he would keep faith with a policy direction that has brought Russia into conflict with the West.

Standing in the ornately-decorated Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin, 65, swore to serve the Russian people, to safeguard rights and freedoms, and protect Russian sovereignty.

Putin won the new six-year term after more than 70 percent of voters backed him in a March 18 presidential election. His most dangerous challenger, Alexei Navalny, was not allowed to take part. Navalny was detained on Saturday at a protest called under the slogan: "Putin is not our tsar."

Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012.

The appointment needs to be approved by the lower house of parliament, but that is likely to be a formality because the chamber is dominated by Kremlin loyalists.

Some Kremlin-watchers had speculated Putin might bring in a fresh face as prime minister to kick-start reforms of the sluggish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand-offs with the West.

By choosing Medvedev - seen by people close to the Russian elite as a safe pair of hands whose chief quality is loyalty to his boss - Putin indicated he favoured continuity.

The choice is also likely to be parsed by Kremlin-watchers for any clues about what happens after Putin's current term ends in 2024. The constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term.

When Putin came up against the same term limits in 2008, he got around the problem by anointing Medvedev as president, before taking back the job after one term.

Some observers believe Putin, who has not anointed any heir apparent, could attempt the same manoeuvre a second time.

LIMOUSINE

Putin embarks on his new term, his fourth in total, buoyed by widespread popular support but also weighed down by the costly confrontation with the West, low economic growth, and uncertainty about what happens when his terms ends.

In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Putin said that in the next six years Russia would prove a strong, muscular player on the world stage, backed by a powerful military, while pushing hard to improve life for its citizens at home.

"Taking up this post, I feel a colossal sense of responsibility," Putin told his audience of Russian officials and foreign dignitaries, among them former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

For the short journey from his office to the inauguration ceremony, Putin travelled in a new Russian-made limousine. From now on, the limousine will replace the fleet of imported vehicles Putin uses, state television reported.

The choice of transport chimes with a message, often repeated by Putin, that Russia is ready to stand on its own feet and shake off its dependence on the West.

Foreign diplomats see little prospect that Russia's standoffs with the West that have dominated the past four years will ease during Putin's new term.

Clashes in the past few weeks over U.S. sanctions on Russia, the conflict in Syria, and the poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal have left some diplomats worried that the confrontation could spiral out of control.

TROUBLES AHEAD

Opinion polls show Putin has high levels of support among Russian citizens, and Navalny has not been able to inspire a nationwide upsurge of protests.

But the Russian economy is a potential weakness for Putin.

Buffeted by lower oil prices, falls in the rouble, inflation and the impact of sanctions, average monthly wages have fallen from the equivalent of $867 in 2013 to $553 last year.

Russia's economy, the world's eleventh largest, returned to growth of 1.5 percent last year, helped by a recovery in oil prices. But that fell far short of the growth Russians grew accustomed to earlier in Putin's rule.

Putin, first elected president in 2000, will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation. By the time his term ends, Putin will be 71.

Foreign diplomats and analysts say uncertainty over what happens after 2024 is likely to destabilise the ruling elite and spark infighting among rival Kremlin clans.

Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012

President Vladimir Putin stuck with his long-serving prime minister in his first act after being sworn in for a new term on Monday, signalling that he would keep faith with a policy direction that has brought Russia into conflict with the West. Standing in the ornately-decorated Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin, 65, swore to serve the Russian people, to safeguard rights and freedoms, and protect Russian sovereignty. Putin won the new six-year term after more than 70 percent of voters backed him in a March 18 presidential election. His most dangerous challenger, Alexei Navalny, was not allowed to take part. Navalny was detained on Saturday at a protest called under the slogan: "Putin is not our tsar." Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012. The appointment needs to be approved by the lower house of parliament, but that is likely to be a formality because the chamber is dominated by Kremlin loyalists. Some Kremlin-watchers had speculated Putin might bring in a fresh face as prime minister to kick-start reforms of the sluggish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand-offs with the West. By choosing Medvedev - seen by people close to the Russian elite as a safe pair of hands whose chief quality is loyalty to his boss - Putin indicated he favoured continuity. The choice is also likely to be parsed by Kremlin-watchers for any clues about what happens after Putin's current term ends in 2024. The constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term. When Putin came up against the same term limits in 2008, he got around the problem by anointing Medvedev as president, before taking back the job after one term. Some observers believe Putin, who has not anointed any heir apparent, could attempt the same manoeuvre a second time. LIMOUSINE Putin embarks on his new term, his fourth in total, buoyed by widespread popular support but also weighed down by the costly confrontation with the West, low economic growth, and uncertainty about what happens when his terms ends. In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Putin said that in the next six years Russia would prove a strong, muscular player on the world stage, backed by a powerful military, while pushing hard to improve life for its citizens at home. "Taking up this post, I feel a colossal sense of responsibility," Putin told his audience of Russian officials and foreign dignitaries, among them former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. For the short journey from his office to the inauguration ceremony, Putin travelled in a new Russian-made limousine. From now on, the limousine will replace the fleet of imported vehicles Putin uses, state television reported. The choice of transport chimes with a message, often repeated by Putin, that Russia is ready to stand on its own feet and shake off its dependence on the West. Foreign diplomats see little prospect that Russia's standoffs with the West that have dominated the past four years will ease during Putin's new term. Clashes in the past few weeks over U.S. sanctions on Russia, the conflict in Syria, and the poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal have left some diplomats worried that the confrontation could spiral out of control. TROUBLES AHEAD Opinion polls show Putin has high levels of support among Russian citizens, and Navalny has not been able to inspire a nationwide upsurge of protests. But the Russian economy is a potential weakness for Putin. Buffeted by lower oil prices, falls in the rouble, inflation and the impact of sanctions, average monthly wages have fallen from the equivalent of $867 in 2013 to $553 last year. Russia's economy, the world's eleventh largest, returned to growth of 1.5 percent last year, helped by a recovery in oil prices. But that fell far short of the growth Russians grew accustomed to earlier in Putin's rule. Putin, first elected president in 2000, will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation. By the time his term ends, Putin will be 71. Foreign diplomats and analysts say uncertainty over what happens after 2024 is likely to destabilise the ruling elite and spark infighting among rival Kremlin clans.

Putin sworn in as Russia President for new term, sticks with old prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday put forward Dmitry Medvedev for the post of prime minister, the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

Medvedev, who had been prime minister since 2012, resigned earlier on Monday along with the rest of the government in line with procedure. Putin was on Monday sworn in for a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-to-take-oath-as-russia-president-for-4th-term-135148">fourth term</a>.

Medvedev's candidacy still has to be approved by the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament.

Medvedev, who had been prime minister since 2012, resigned earlier on Monday along with the rest of the government in line with procedure

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday put forward Dmitry Medvedev for the post of prime minister, the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. Medvedev, who had been prime minister since 2012, resigned earlier on Monday along with the rest of the government in line with procedure. Putin was on Monday sworn in for a fourth term. Medvedev's candidacy still has to be approved by the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament.

Russia's Putin taps Dmitry Medvedev for prime minister

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee&#39;s decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games.

&quot;The IOC Commission has taken a shameful decision. This decision is unfair, unlawful, immoral and politically charged,&quot; Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page.

&quot;The court has taken a decision in this case. After that, its decision has been overturned by a group of people who have placed themselves above the court, the IOC, the athletes and fans.&quot;

He added: &quot;This decision has little in common with&nbsp;sports. Its goal is to do political damage to Russia.&quot;

&quot;And now politics has defeated the rules of law and decency.&quot;

Earlier on Monday, the IOC ruled that 15 Russian athletes and staff who controversially had their life bans for doping lifted last week will not be invited to Pyeongchang.

The decision was taken after a special panel &quot;unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals&quot;, a statement said.

&quot;The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals,&quot; the IOC said.

The 15 were among a group of 28 Russians who had been banned for life from the Olympics for doping, but whose suspensions were overturned at the Court of Arbitration for&nbsp;Sport&nbsp;on Thursday.

They included 13 athletes and two ex-athletes now working as support staff. The other members of the 28 have either retired or are unavailable for undisclosed reasons.

The IOC has barred Russia from the Pyeongchang Olympics, which open on Friday, over a widespread doping conspiracy. But 169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag.

The IOC announcement comes after the body&#39;s president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as &quot;extremely disappointing and surprising&quot; and called for reforms to the independent&nbsp;sports&nbsp;tribunal.

&quot;We have some concerns about the quality of this decision,&quot; Bach told reporters on Sunday, questioning why the court didn&#39;t take into account the &quot;systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia&quot;.

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Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee's decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee's decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games. "The IOC Commission has taken a shameful decision. This decision is unfair, unlawful, immoral and politically charged," Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page. "The court has taken a decision in this case. After that, its decision has been overturned by a group of people who have placed themselves above the court, the IOC, the athletes and fans." He added: "This decision has little in common with sports. Its goal is to do political damage to Russia." "And now politics has defeated the rules of law and decency." Earlier on Monday, the IOC ruled that 15 Russian athletes and staff who controversially had their life bans for doping lifted last week will not be invited to Pyeongchang. The decision was taken after a special panel "unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals", a statement said. "The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals," the IOC said. The 15 were among a group of 28 Russians who had been banned for life from the Olympics for doping, but whose suspensions were overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. They included 13 athletes and two ex-athletes now working as support staff. The other members of the 28 have either retired or are unavailable for undisclosed reasons. The IOC has barred Russia from the Pyeongchang Olympics, which open on Friday, over a widespread doping conspiracy. But 169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag. The IOC announcement comes after the body's president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as "extremely disappointing and surprising" and called for reforms to the independent sports tribunal. "We have some concerns about the quality of this decision," Bach told reporters on Sunday, questioning why the court didn't take into account the "systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia".

Russian PM Medvedev slams IOC verdict

Russia&#39;s ruling party United Russia has extended its support to Vladimir Putin for the 2018 presidential election.

&quot;The party supports nomination of President Vladimir Putin candidate for presidency at the election scheduled for March 18, 2018,&quot; the Russian news agency TASS reported, citing party, as saying, in a statement adopted at the congress.

United Russia&#39;s head and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told an annual gathering of the party that it would give Putin &quot;all possible support&quot; now and in the future.

Putin, who will run in the presidential election next year as an independent candidate, won the 2012 presidential election as a candidate from the United Russia party.

Russia has locked March 18 for presidential election.

On December 14, during his 13th annual news conference, Putin said, &quot;This will be a self-nomination. I expect to have support of those political forces (parties and public organizations) that share my view on the country&#39;s development and trust me. I certainly expect this very much.&quot;

&quot;I expect a widespread support of the Russian citizens,&quot; the President added.

On December 18, Russia officially kicked off its presidential election campaign after the upper house of parliament published its resolution.&nbsp;

Russia's ruling party United Russia has extended its support to Vladimir Putin for the 2018 presidential election. "The party supports nomination of President Vladimir Putin candidate for presidency at the election scheduled for March 18, 2018," the Russian news agency TASS reported, citing party, as saying, in a statement adopted at the congress. United Russia's head and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told an annual gathering of the party that it would give Putin "all possible support" now and in the future. Putin, who will run in the presidential election next year as an independent candidate, won the 2012 presidential election as a candidate from the United Russia party. Russia has locked March 18 for presidential election. On December 14, during his 13th annual news conference, Putin said, "This will be a self-nomination. I expect to have support of those political forces (parties and public organizations) that share my view on the country's development and trust me. I certainly expect this very much." "I expect a widespread support of the Russian citizens," the President added. On December 18, Russia officially kicked off its presidential election campaign after the upper house of parliament published its resolution.

Russia's ruling party backs Putin for presidential polls

More than 168,000 Russians have signed an online petition calling for Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev&#39;s resignation after he suggested a low-paid lecturer get a different job. 
 
His comments -- widely seen as out of touch and uncaring -- unleashed a torrent of bile in the press and on social media, with a petition on Change.org calling for his ouster garnering 168,000 signatures by today afternoon. 
 
&quot;The cabinet should be led by a person who is competent, educated and cares about the country,&quot; wrote the petition&#39;s author, Alexander Li. 
 
&quot;We are seeing the opposite right now.&quot; 
 
The lower house of parliament is obliged to debate any petition that gets 100,000 signatures. 
 
What plunged Medvedev into trouble&nbsp; 
 
At a youth education forum on Tuesday, Medvedev was asked by a university lecturer from the impoverished Dagestan region why teachers receive only around 15,000 rubles ($230) per month, while police are significantly better paid. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s no need to compare,&quot; Medvedev said. &quot;The issue is what you choose in life. 
 
Teaching, he said, &quot;is a vocation. If you want to earn money, there are a bunch of great places where you can do that quicker and better in business. And you didn&#39;t go into business.&quot; 
 
Official statistics show the average monthly salary in Russia is around 37,000 rubles (507 euros/$566). Teachers make an average 32,000 rubles per month but the figure varies greatly depending on the region. 
 
In the Dagestan region, teachers earn a monthly average of 18,000 rubles, Kommersant daily reported. 
 
&#39;Hang in there&#39; remark by premier also drew public ire&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The prime minister&#39;s impressions are completely understandable,&quot; said a wry editorial in tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets. 
 
&quot;We all know very well of government officials who successfully manage to combine their main job with business, including big business.&quot; 
 
Novaya Gazeta lashed out at the premier over his remarks. 
 
&quot;Cynism cannot be at the foundation of the state&#39;s domestic policy. That usually ends badly for the state and the bureaucrats,&quot; it said. 
 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the petition. 
 
In May, Medvedev -- who served as president from 2008 to 2012, between current President Vladimir Putin&#39;s terms -- once again sparked public ire after telling a group of pensioners: &quot;There&#39;s no money, but hang in there.&quot; 
 
The phrase has since gone viral. 
 
Russia&#39;s energy-reliant economy is reeling from the fall in oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow&#39;s meddling in Ukraine. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
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Medvedev told a university lecture to get a different job if he was looking for a better pay scale

More than 168,000 Russians have signed an online petition calling for Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's resignation after he suggested a low-paid lecturer get a different job. His comments -- widely seen as out of touch and uncaring -- unleashed a torrent of bile in the press and on social media, with a petition on Change.org calling for his ouster garnering 168,000 signatures by today afternoon. "The cabinet should be led by a person who is competent, educated and cares about the country," wrote the petition's author, Alexander Li. "We are seeing the opposite right now." The lower house of parliament is obliged to debate any petition that gets 100,000 signatures. What plunged Medvedev into trouble At a youth education forum on Tuesday, Medvedev was asked by a university lecturer from the impoverished Dagestan region why teachers receive only around 15,000 rubles ($230) per month, while police are significantly better paid. "There's no need to compare," Medvedev said. "The issue is what you choose in life. Teaching, he said, "is a vocation. If you want to earn money, there are a bunch of great places where you can do that quicker and better in business. And you didn't go into business." Official statistics show the average monthly salary in Russia is around 37,000 rubles (507 euros/$566). Teachers make an average 32,000 rubles per month but the figure varies greatly depending on the region. In the Dagestan region, teachers earn a monthly average of 18,000 rubles, Kommersant daily reported. 'Hang in there' remark by premier also drew public ire "The prime minister's impressions are completely understandable," said a wry editorial in tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets. "We all know very well of government officials who successfully manage to combine their main job with business, including big business." Novaya Gazeta lashed out at the premier over his remarks. "Cynism cannot be at the foundation of the state's domestic policy. That usually ends badly for the state and the bureaucrats," it said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the petition. In May, Medvedev -- who served as president from 2008 to 2012, between current President Vladimir Putin's terms -- once again sparked public ire after telling a group of pensioners: "There's no money, but hang in there." The phrase has since gone viral. Russia's energy-reliant economy is reeling from the fall in oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's meddling in Ukraine. (AFP)

Angered by 'careless remark', 168,000 Russians demand PM  Dmitry Medvedev's resignation

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