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
Third inauguration of Vladimir Putin Kremlin. At noon, when the bells of the Kremlin clock rung, Vladimir Putin entered St George's Hall and walked to the podium located in the St. Andrew Hall. The first speech was made by the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev: After the speech Dmitry Medvedev and Chairman of the Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin invited Vladimir Putin to take the oath: Vladimir Putin read the text of the oath: After that, the Russian national anthem sounded, followed by a thirty-one salvo Artillery salute. Vladimir Putin delivered his speech as President of Russia: After the speech, Vladimir Putin headed for the exit, passing