AKIPRESS.COM - Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russian President for a fourth term after winning the election in March.

He has been in power for 18 years, whether as president or prime minister, BBC reported.

Russian TV showed Mr Putin, 65, leaving his Kremlin office and walking to the ceremony, down long corridors.

Riot police confronted protesters against his rule in Moscow and other Russian cities on Saturday.

More than 1,000 arrests are said to have been made in 19 cities.