Russia to swear in new leader

By Oleg Shchedrov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Thirty guns will salute Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday, when he is sworn in as a new Russian president in the Kremlin's throne room to replace his long-time mentor, the powerful Vladimir Putin.

But many of the 2,000 invited dignitaries at the lavish ceremony will be trying to guess if the 55-year-old ex-KGB spy, who has led Russia's revival for eight years, is ready to step back and let the 42-year-old ex-lawyer rule the country.

Putin has named Medvedev as a preferred successor ensuring his victory in the March polls with 72 percent of vote.

But the Kremlin leader, who will become Medvedev's prime minister, has also said he will retain political influence after quitting while promising not to change the balance of power between president and government.

Officials and media have said the inauguration in the Grand Kremlin Palace will follow the pattern set for a similar ceremony in 2000, when Putin was sworn in, to stress continuity and smooth transition of power.

Eight years ago, Putin's long ceremonial march through golden Kremlin halls captured for many ordinary Russians the glory of the Russian state.

Medvedev will also march to the Kremlin's gold-and-white St Andrew's hall to take the oath and make a brief speech to the nation in a ceremony due to start at 8:40 a.m. British time.

But Russian media has said that unlike in 2000, the new president is likely to be preceded by Putin who will take the same path and make a speech in a gesture putting him on an equal footing with his successor.