MOSCOW - Vladimir V. Putin took over as Russian president for the third time Monday, even as hundreds protested against his taking over the mantle again.
The outgoing prime minister, who turns 60 this year, has served two presidential terms between 2000 and 2008. Putin took the oath of office at a grand ceremony at the Kremlin.
The streets were near empty as police had passed orders to detain anyone wearing a white ribbon, the opposition's symbol.
On Sunday, around 400 people were detained, including opposition leaders Sergei Udaltsov, Aleksei Navalny, and Boris Nemtsov, for holding anti-Putin protests.
After his swearing in, Putin named outgoing president Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister.
In a brief speech following his taking over, Putin pledged to strengthen democracy in Russia.
"I will do all I can to justify the faith of millions of our citizens," he said. "I consider it the meaning of my whole life and my duty to serve my fatherland and our people."
He said Russia is entering "a new stage of national development" and that the next few years will be "decisive" for the country.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, religious leaders and some international figures, including former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Meanwhile, police Monday detained some 120 protesters, including Boris Nemtsov, for holding demonstrations in Moscow.
Putin has indicated he may run for a fourth six-year term too, meaning he could remain in power until 2024.
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