Yekaterina Shtukinayekaterina Shtukina / Ria-Novosti / AFP / Getty ImagesRussia's outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev applauds his successor Vladimir Putin during his inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Putin is returning to the presidency after four years, during which he was Prime Minister. Among the audience was former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and the four losing presidential candidates.