Reuters: 7 EU countries, including France, will participate in Putin’s inauguration on Tuesday

The United States has confirmed that it does not intend to attend the ceremony, which will take place at noon in the Kremlin.

“No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration,” assured US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. “We certainly do not consider those elections to be free and fair, but he is the president of Russia and will continue to hold this position.”

Britain and Canada said they would not send representatives to the ceremony, especially after Russia announced on Monday that it would hold tactical nuclear weapons exercises that it hoped would cool down “hot heads” in the West.

Inauguration of V. Putin in 2018

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Inauguration of V. Putin in 2018 (photo by SCANPIX)

France will also participate

A high-ranking Kremlin official said that the heads of all foreign diplomatic missions in Moscow had been invited to attend Putin’s inauguration, the Interfax news agency reported.

An EU spokesman told Reuters that the bloc’s ambassador to Russia would not attend the ceremony, a position shared by most of the bloc’s member states.

Another European diplomat told Reuters that 20 EU member states would boycott the event, but seven more were expected to send representatives. In addition to France, representatives of Hungary and Slovakia are also expected to attend, two diplomatic sources told the news agency.

Germany’s foreign ministry said it would not attend. The Baltic countries, which no longer have envoys in Moscow, categorically rejected the opportunity to participate in the inauguration.

“We believe that the isolation of Russia, and especially of its criminal leader, must be continued,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. – Participation in Putin’s inauguration is unacceptable for Lithuania. Our priority remains support for Ukraine and its people fighting Russian aggression.”

Putin’s inauguration

In order to stay in power, a few years ago V. Putin rewrote the Russian constitution. After his current term ends in 2030, the constitution allows Mr. Putin to run for another term and rule until 2036, when he will be 83.

Traditionally in Russia, the government resigns after the inauguration of the president so that the head of state can form a new cabinet. According to information from the Duma, Russia’s parliament, lawmakers could approve the appointments of new ministers by May 15.

Political commentators are waiting to see if 74-year-old Sergey Lavrov, who has held this position for 20 years, will be reappointed as foreign minister. There is also speculation about the future of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whose chief deputy Timur Ivanov was recently arrested and charged with corruption.

Inauguration of V. Putin in 2018 (photo by SCANPIX)

Putin’s inauguration will be broadcast live on most of Russia’s main television channels from around midday, when a luxury motorcade will bring him to Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace. Upon arrival, he will walk through the corridors of the palace to the ornate St. Andrew’s Hall, where he will take the presidential oath and briefly address the Russians.

The inauguration will take place two days before Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9 and has acquired a new symbolic meaning, with Putin comparing the attack in Ukraine to Russia’s fight against Nazi Germany in World War II.

Before both events, the authorities erected barricades throughout the city center of Moscow.

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France will also participate

Putin’s inauguration

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