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"The government must understand that the split in society is getting wider, and the anger over unfair elections and the lack of normal dialogue is growing. In this situation, radicalism is inevitable," Zyuganov said. "Any attempts to shut people's mouths with the help of a police baton are senseless and extremely dangerous." Putin has dismissed the Moscow protesters as ungrateful, pampered urbanites and agents of the West. Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia's president for the past four years as Putin's junior partner, wrapped up his term with a short speech at the inauguration ceremony. "I worked as I promised in taking the oath of office: openly and honestly in the interests of the people, doing everything I could so that they would be free and would look toward the future with confidence," Medvedev said. Putin, as promised, began his new presidential term by formally nominating Medvedev as his prime minister. The parliament, where the Kremlin party holds a majority, was to vote on his nomination on Tuesday. Putin's wife, Lyudmila, who has rarely been seen in public in recent years, attended the inauguration ceremony. She was seated between Medvedev's wife and the widow of Boris Yeltsin, who chose Putin as his successor in 1999.
[Associated
Press;
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