The ceremony was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace. In his speech, Putin emphasized support for "centuries-old family values, traditions," which he said would unite society, political parties and all levels of government.
The dictator also said that Russia was not abandoning dialog with Western countries: "The choice is theirs. Whether they intend to continue trying to hold back Russia's development, to continue their policy of aggression, the pressure on our country that has not ceased for years, or to seek cooperation and peace."
At the Kremlin ceremony, which was not attended by representatives of the US, EU and UK, Putin took an oath to "protect the rights and freedoms of Russians, serve the people, and protect the sovereignty and independence of the country."
Changes to the Constitution allow Putin to remain in power until 2036. He has already exceeded the reigns of all previous Russian leaders since Empress Catherine the Great.
Putin has already surpassed Pinochet (17 years), Kim Jong Il (17 years), as well as Benito Mussolini and Indonesian dictator Suharto (20 years). At the end of his fifth term, Putin will overtake Nicolae Ceaușescu (24 years) and Mao Zedong (27 years).
