Putin loyalist Sobyanin takes office as Moscow mayor
His inauguration ceremony is held in the White Hall of the City Hall on Moscow's downtown Tverskaya Street.
"I swear to adhere to the Constitution of Russian Federation, federal and Moscow laws while performing the mayoral duties. I swear to faithfully and devotedly perform the duties, to serve the city's prosperity and the citizen's well-being," Sobyanin said.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was sure that his former chief of staff Sobyanin would be effective in his new position and "Muscovites will not regret their choice."
In 2004, Putin, the then Russian President, scrapped the direct elections for Moscow mayor and governors across Russia.
Sobyanin was head of the presidential administration under first Putin and then Medvedev from 2005-2008, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
See www.en.rian.ru