Donetsk, Sep 23 - DAN. Donetsk People’s Republic Head Denis Pushilin has congratulated the United Russia party on winning the 8th State Duma election.

“We all watched the voting closely and awaited the results with impatience,” Pushilin said in his video address on Thursday. “Preliminary results have already been published. My congratulations to the president’s party “United Russia” on the resounding victory.”

United Russia reportedly won 49.82 percent of votes. Overall, five political parties won seats in the 8th State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament: United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, A Just Russia - For Truth and New People.

The participation of DPR residents in the Russian election will go down in history textbooks, Pushilin said.

The DPR leader also thanked the Donbass residents who had taken part in the vote for the first time this year. In the DPR alone, more than 150,000 people exercised their election right, he said.

“Together with the whole Russia, we’ve selected the way to develop our Greater Motherland for the next five years. Russian Donbass is in the ranks,” the DPR leader added.

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