普京第三次就任俄羅斯總統

Russia's Vladimir Putin took the oath of office Monday to become president for a historic third term.

俄羅斯領導人普京星期一宣誓就職，成爲俄羅斯歷史性地第三次任職總統。

At an elaborate Kremlin ceremony attended by some 2,000 dignitaries, Mr. Putin placed his hand on a copy of the constitution and swore to "respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the people."

有大約2000名政要參加了在克里姆林宮舉行的精心設計的就職儀式。普京將手放在憲法上面宣誓說，“尊重並捍衛人民的權力和自由”。

Police tightened security in the capital, Moscow, ahead of the inauguration.

警察在就職儀式之前加強了首都莫斯科的安全保衛工作。

Mr. Putin had been Russia's prime minister since relinquishing the presidency in 2008. He won the country's March 4 presidential election by a landslide. The opposition disputes the victory, calling it a stolen election.

普京於2008年從總統位置上卸任後一直擔任俄羅斯總理，他在3月4號舉行的俄羅斯大選中以絕對多數贏得了勝利。反對派對選舉結果提出異議，說這是一次被偷竊的選舉。

World leaders acknowledged Mr. Putin's victory with reservations, and international observers say the election was skewed in his favor.

世界領導人有所保留地承認普京的當選，國際觀察人士說這次選舉在有利於普京的方向上傾斜。

Russian riot police clashed with demonstrators Sunday as an estimated 20,000 people protested against Mr. Putin.

俄羅斯防暴警察星期天和示威人士發生衝突，有大約兩萬人蔘加了抗議普京的示威活動。

Helmeted officers beat protesters with batons and hauled away dozens after skirmishes broke out between the two sides near a bridge leading across the Moscow river to the Kremlin.

雙方在橫跨莫斯科河、通往克里姆林宮的大橋附近發生了摩擦以後，佩戴頭盔的警察用警棍擊打併拖走幾十名抗議者。