Vladimir Putin is set to be sworn in as Russia’s president for the fifth time in his political career.
Putin’s allies heaped praise on the strongman leader ahead of the inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin on Tuesday, saying society is consolidated around the president, who first took office 24 years ago.
The Russian government will resign after the ceremony and a reshuffle will take place in the next few days and weeks. Close followers of Russian politics will be looking to see which allies — several of whom have been in ministerial posts for many years — he will keep close and who will be demoted.
Western nations are boycotting the ceremony in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with the U.S. and U.K. among those refusing to send diplomats to the inauguration.
U.S. soldier arrested in Russia on theft charges, Russian news agency reports
A U.S. soldier who was detained in Russia on charges of criminal misconduct was arrested by a Vladivostok court on theft charges, Russia’s RIA state news agency reported on Tuesday.
Citing the court’s press office, RIA said that the soldier, whom the court identified as Gordon Black, is to be detained until July 2.
“The Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok arrested the American soldier Gordon Black … under the ‘Theft’ article (of Russia’s criminal code),” RIA cited the court’s spokeswoman as saying.
The U.S. Army, which said on Monday it had been informed about the detention, has not officially named the soldier. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the soldier had been based in South Korea. Another U.S. official said the soldier was accused of stealing from a woman.
The Russian daily Izvestia, quoting an unnamed source, said the South Korea-based Army sergeant met a woman from Russia’s far eastern port of Vladivostok on the Internet.
Izvestia said the couple lived together for a time and that he stole 200,000 roubles ($2,196) from her. Reuters could not independently verify the Izvestia report.
— Reuters
