Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in 1997. In his 2002 interview with "Izvestia", Metropolitan Kirill called the allegations about his profiteering a political campaign against him. Alexander Pochinok who was the minister of taxes and levies (1999-2000), said in 2009 that Kirill had no involvement in the violations. Three female members of the feminist group Pussy Riot were arrested in March 2012 for performing a song in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow during which they called on the Virgin Mary to "chase Putin out". The women were arrested for hooliganism and were later sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The song contained swear words
Fourth inauguration of Vladimir Putin judges of the Russian Constitutional Court. Vladimir Putin took the oath of office, traditionally with his right hand on the Constitution. After Putin took the oath, Zorkin said that Vladimir Putin had officially taken office as President of Russia. After the swearing-in, orchestra performed Anthem of Russia, the presidential standard rose above the Senate Palace and Putin received the traditional 30-gun salute in his honor. Vladimir Putin then delivered his 12-minute inaugural address of 1,246 words. This speech was the longest in history, the previous record was the inaugural speech of Boris Yeltsin in 1991, that speech consisted of 748