Vladimir Putin has taken office as Russia’s president for a historic third term after four years as prime minister.

Putin was sworn in as Russia’s president at noon on Monday at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.

On Sunday, about 20-thousand protesters marched toward the Kremlin palace, opposing Putin's inauguration. The march turned violent as the protestors clashed with the police. About 300 people were arrested.

As opposition forces and antigovernment civic groups announced plans to hold protests and rallies against Putin in various areas in the city, a lot of riot police and the military have been mobilized to block the protests.