Dmitry Medvedev inaugurated as Russian president
Dmitry Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia's president on Wednesday, pledging to bolster the country's economic development and civil rights.
Medvedev took the oath of office in the Kremlin's golden-hued Andreyevsky Hall, bringing to an end Vladimir Putin's eight years as president.
Medvedev has pledged to continue the policies pursued by Putin. In his inaugural address, Medvedev said his most important tasks would be the development of civil and economic freedom.
Medvedev's six-minute inaugural address referred to civil rights issues several times, a possible indication that his presidency would take a different course than that of the man who groomed him for the job and used his considerable influence to ensure his election.
"Human rights and freedoms ... are deemed of the highest value for our society and they determine the meaning and content of all state activity," he said.
The 42-year-old, formerly a first deputy prime minister and chairman of the state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom, also pledged to fight endemic corruption.
"I'm going to pay special attention to the fundamental role of the law. We must achieve a true respect in law, overcome the legal nihilism which is hampering modern development," Medvedev said.
He pledged to help make life "comfortable, confident and secure" for Russians and to modernize industry and agriculture, encourage the development of new technologies and attract investment, the AP reports.
Medvedev took the oath of office in the Kremlin's golden-hued Andreyevsky Hall, bringing to an end Vladimir Putin's eight years as president.
Medvedev has pledged to continue the policies pursued by Putin. In his inaugural address, Medvedev said his most important tasks would be the development of civil and economic freedom.
Medvedev's six-minute inaugural address referred to civil rights issues several times, a possible indication that his presidency would take a different course than that of the man who groomed him for the job and used his considerable influence to ensure his election.
"Human rights and freedoms ... are deemed of the highest value for our society and they determine the meaning and content of all state activity," he said.
The 42-year-old, formerly a first deputy prime minister and chairman of the state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom, also pledged to fight endemic corruption.
"I'm going to pay special attention to the fundamental role of the law. We must achieve a true respect in law, overcome the legal nihilism which is hampering modern development," Medvedev said.
He pledged to help make life "comfortable, confident and secure" for Russians and to modernize industry and agriculture, encourage the development of new technologies and attract investment, the AP reports.
