Putin sworn in for another six years

Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as Russian president for another six years on Monday.

Putin won an election in March with no meaningful opposition and if the former spy chief completes his full term he will have dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century. 

Standing in the Grand Kremlin Palace's ornately-decorated Andreyevsky Hall with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin on Monday swore to serve the Russian people, safeguard their rights and freedoms, and defend Russian sovereignty.

Putin, 65 was inaugurated for his fourth term as president two months after more than 70 per cent of voters backed him in a presidential election in which he had no serious challengers.

His most dangerous opponent, Alexei Navalny, was barred from running in that vote and on Saturday Navalny and hundreds of his supporters were detained by police while protesting over Putin's new term under the slogan: "Putin is not our tsar."

My whole life will be dedicated to serving our people and our homeland," Putin said in a short address to hundreds of dignitaries, vowing to "restore strength, prosperity and glory" to the Russian state, and talking of his role as a "sacred duty.

Putin, embarks on his fourth term in office buoyed by widespread popular support but weighed down by a costly confrontation with the West, a fragile economy and uncertainty about what happens when his term ends.

The Russian constitution bars him from running again when his new term ends in 2024.