Russia's Medvedev takes power

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as Russianpresident on Wednesday and nominated his predecessor VladimirPutin as prime minister, ushering in an unprecedented period ofdual rule.

Medvedev, a 42-year-old former corporate lawyer andlongtime Putin ally, stressed freedom and the rule of law inhis first remarks after taking the oath of office in a solemn,emotional ceremony in the Kremlin's glittering St Andrew'sHall.

"I believe my most important aims will be to protect civiland economic freedoms," he told guests at the inauguration,broadcast live on state television.

"We must fight for a true respect of the law and overcomelegal nihilism, which seriously hampers modern development."

Shortly afterwards, the government led by Prime MinisterViktor Zubkov followed protocol by resigning. This cleared theway for Medvedev to nominate Putin as prime minister as thecarefully choreographed transition unfolded.

The new leader, who arrived at the Kremlin alone in anarmoured black stretch Mercedes limousine flanked by 11motorcycle outriders, inherits a booming $1.3 trillion (665billion pounds) economy fuelled by high oil prices -- and asobering set of challenges.

They include rampant corruption, rising inflation, afalling population, sickly industry and agriculture andincreasingly tense relations with former Soviet neighbours andthe West.

A White House spokeswoman said U.S. President George W.Bush wished Medvedev well in his new role and was lookingforward to working with him. The two leaders will probably meetat the Group of Eight summit in Japan this summer, she said.

Putin has been accused by domestic critics and Westerngovernments of trampling on human rights and reining infreedoms won after the collapse of Soviet communism in the1990s. He has reasserted the state's grip on the Russianeconomy and business.

Before Medvedev was sworn in, a sombre-looking Putinentered the Kremlin alone, bid farewell to the presidentialguard and thanked the Russian people for their trust over histwo four-year terms.

Putin encouraged his audience to support Medvedev, sayinghis policies had proved right.

During the inauguration ceremony in the Grand KremlinPalace, stirring passages from Russian composers Tchaikovskyand Glinka were meshed with pomp and circumstance for theevent, which was designed in the 1990s to evoke the imperialpower of Russia's past and bury memories of its drab Sovietperiod.

Patriarch Alexiy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church,then led a service in the Kremlin's Cathedral of theAnnunciation to bless the new president. Medvedev was laterhanded the codes that control Russia's nuclear weapons.

Putin named Medvedev as his preferred successor lastDecember, ensuring his overwhelming victory in the March polls.The two men have worked together since the early 1990s.

The former KGB spy will retain major political influenceboth in his new role as prime minister and as head of theruling United Russia party which controls parliament. Putinremains by far Russia's most popular politician.

"Hello bosses. You are all bosses here and I am not," Putintold party leaders at a meeting in the Kremlin after Medvedevwas sworn in.

United Russia parliamentary boss Boris Gryzlov said theparty would support his candidacy as premier. Communist leaderGennady Zyuganov said his party would vote against.

COMMON VIEWS

Putin has said he sees no problem working with Medvedev,with whom he says he shares common views on Russia's future.

But their double-headed government has alarmed manyRussians, who are accustomed to a single strong leader. Theyquestion how the arrangement would work in a crisis.

"Putin's opponents don't think there will be a problem butinterestingly, it's Putin's allies who are the most worriedabout what could go wrong," one Western ambassador said.

Analysts await Medvedev's first appointments for cluesabout whether he will be his own man or rely on Putin's allies.Top posts in the presidential administration and the FSB spyservice will be particularly closely scrutinised.

Some Russia-watchers believe Medvedev's past as chief ofthe giant state gas company Gazprom and head of thepresidential administration shows he has the right stuff forthe Kremlin.

"The media are all immensely underestimating Medvedev andmaking the same mistake as they made eight years ago," saidFlorian Fenner, managing partner at UFG Asset Management whichhas $1.8 billion in Russian assets.

"The only real issue they have is inflation."

Cabinet names are expected to come after Putin's nominationas prime minister is confirmed by parliament on Thursday.

(Additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by JonBoyle)