Political career of Vladimir Putin personally congratulated Putin on his victory, calling Putin "a driving force behind strategic ties of cooperation between Venezuela and Russia." Anti-Putin protests took place during and directly after the presidential campaign. The most notorious protest was the 21 February Pussy Riot performance, and subsequent trial. Also, an estimated 8,000-20,000 protesters gathered in Moscow on 6 May, when eighty people were injured in confrontations with police, and 450 were arrested, with another 120 arrests taking place the following day. Putin was inaugurated in the Kremlin on 7 May 2012. On his first day as President, Putin issued 14 Presidential decrees, including
Vladimir Putin 2004 presidential campaign Vladimir Putin 2004 presidential campaign The 2004 presidential campaign of Vladimir Putin was the first reelection campaign of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Putin entered the 2004 election with a strong grasp on power an essentially no serious challengers for the presidential elections. During his first term Putin had further consolidated political power in Russia. In his first term as president Putin had overseen an upswing in the economic fortunes of Russia, giving him a strong level of public approval. Approximately three months in advance of the presidential election the Putin-backed United Russia party had swept the 2003 legislative election, while