The swearing-in ceremony of the Saint-Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko was held in the Mariinsky palace. Valentina Matvienko (left) receives congratulations from the Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov (right).

The head of the Presidential Administration, Alexander Voloshin attended the swearing-in ceremony of Valentina Matvienko as the Saint-Petersburg governor. The event was held in the Mariinsky palace.

Presidential chief of staff Alexander Voloshin (left) and the Federation Council chairman Sergei Mironov (right) attended the swearing-in ceremony of Valentina Matvienko as the Saint-Petersburg governor. The event was held in the Mariinsky palace.

Presidential chief of staff Alexander Voloshin (left) congratulates Valentina Matvienko (right) at the swearing-in ceremony of Valentina Matvienko as the Saint-Petersburg governor. The event was held in the Mariinsky palace.

The newly elected St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko (centre) is congratulated at the inauguration ceremony in the company of the Kremlin chief of staff Alexander Voloshin (left) and speaker of the Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Sergey Mironov (behind Mrs Matviyenko). The ceremony took place in the Mariinsky Palace.

The newly elected St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko (left) is hugged by the Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov (right) at the inauguration ceremony. The ceremony took place in the Mariinsky Palace.

Director of the Federal Security Service of Russia Nikolay Patrushev takes part in the swearing-in ceremony of Valentina Matvienko as the Saint-Petersburg governor. The event was held in the Mariinsky palace.