It was condemned by the west as glaringly unfair and undemocratic. Washington and the European Union are boycotting the Kremlin Ceremony, although france and some other eu states have sent an envoy despite a plea not to do so by ukraine. With me is andrei 0stalski, the former editor of bbc russian. Take us through what we are looking at. , ,. , ~ at. This is the first time that mr putin is swearing at. This is the first time that mr putin is swearing his at. This is the first time that mr putin is swearing his allegiance| at. This is the first time that mr. Putin is swearing his allegiance to the constitution and the people of russia. It sounds and looks, i think, quite different in essence to the previous occasions. Although again we see all this glamour, this grandeur, the gold, the soldier and incredibly beautiful uniforms with the high hats, it all looks like putin puts my personal triumph. But this is the first time the president has been elected, if we can call it that, during a