Here is who did present up

The U.S. and a number of other different world leaders boycotted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s swearing-in ceremony for his fifth time period on Tuesday, although the ceremony did draw a number of well-known faces.

Putin was sworn into his fifth presidential time period at a Kremlin inauguration on Tuesday, ushering at first of at the very least one other six years as Russia’s chief.

The win makes Putin, 71, Russia’s longest-serving chief since Catherine the Nice in 1796, surpassing the file held by former Soviet Union chief Joseph Stalin.

Within the wake of ongoing scrutiny of Putin as Russia pushes ahead with its invasion of Ukraine, many world leaders, together with the U.S., snubbed the inauguration ceremony.

In his inauguration speech, Putin criticized what he known as Western leaders’ “aggression” in opposition to Russia and prompt talks over safety and strategic stability would solely be attainable if the West modified its strategy.

“The alternative is theirs: Whether or not they intend to proceed making an attempt to comprise Russia’s growth, proceed the coverage of aggression, the relentless strain they’ve been exerting on our nation for years, or search a path to cooperation and peace,” Putin stated, per the Kremlin’s web site.

Whereas many notable faces have been no-shows, a crowd was nonetheless current to look at Putin take the oath of workplace.

Amongst these included American actor Steve Seagal, who’s an ally of Putin’s and was appointed in 2018 as Russia’s particular envoy to the U.S., Sky Information reported Tuesday. Seagal reportedly known as Putin the “world’s biggest chief,” and that “he’s very wanting ahead” to his subsequent time period, per Newsweek.

Chechnya chief Ramzan Kadyrov, a trusted ally of Putin, was additionally seen on the ceremony, per Reuters. He has despatched lots of of his fighters from Chechnya, which is a federal republic of Russia, to help within the nation’s battle in opposition to Ukraine. He has typically described himself as Putin’s “foot soldier,” the information wire added.

Russian Singer Yaroslav Dronov, also called SHAMAN, was additionally on the inauguration, sporting a swimsuit and tie as a substitute of his typical leather-based apparel. The singer has publicly supported Russia’s battle in opposition to Ukraine and is popular with the Kremlin. Soviet and Russian composer Aleksandra Pakhmutova was additionally noticed, Reuters reported.

Seven European Union member states have been anticipated to ship envoys, together with France, Greece and Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Cyprus, a number of media retailers reported. The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was absent on depart, The Washington Publish reported.

A number of key Russian officers attended the ceremony, together with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu, together with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, per Reuters.

Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, took a swipe at those that didn’t present for the occasion, The Publish reported.

“I consider they merely neglect the place they’ve been accredited, that’s it,” Ushakov stated. “They merely neglect the place they’re posted, and most significantly, why.”