Donetsk, Sep 21 - DAN. Residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, by taking part in the Russian parliamentary election, exercised their constitutional right and made a conscious choice for the sake of a peaceful and happy future, chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party, Russia’s representative in the Contact Group for settling the Donbass conflict Boris Gryzlov said.

“Despite the opportunity to take part in online vote, many DPR and LPR citizens travelled to voting stations in Russia’s Rostov region. For citizens of the Russian Federation who live in Donbass, the election held on September 17-19 became a true holiday. These people are actually deprived of the opportunity to influence the fate of Ukraine due to Kiev’s sabotage of the Minsk accords,” the United Russia website quoted Gryzlov as saying.

The politician said that amid the ongoing hostilities and unprecedented information pressure, people showed a political will. “They exercised their constitutional right and made a conscious choice for the sake of a peaceful and happy future, investing their hopes in Russia,” he said.

Russia held the election to the 8th State Duma on September 17 - 19. Donbass residents who obtained Russian citizenship  joined the Russian parliamentary election for the first time. They could cast their ballots at voting stations or opt for online vote.*jk