Putin, Medvedev Join In May Day March

Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin (far-right) and outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev (left) take part in May Day celebrations in Moscow.

Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin and outgoing leader Dmitry Medvedev joined tens of thousands of people in the Russian capital Moscow participating in a march to mark the May 1 labor day holiday.

Putin, Medvedev, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin led a column of trade union workers through the city center as protesters waved Russian flags or carried banners with political slogans praising the Kremlin and ridiculing opposition protests.

Putin, who attended the march dressed informally in a suit with no necktie, is due to be inaugurated as president on May 7 for an unprecedented third term after a four-year stint as prime minister.

Based on reporting but AFP and Interfax