Vladimir Putin calls on Russians to participate in the parliamentary elections to show their support for the war against Ukraine / Donbas and Novorossiya vote for the first time

On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin urged Russian citizens to take part in the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18–20, saying that voting represents a contribution to strengthening the country. The Kremlin leader delivered the message in a speech addressed to the public, amid the war in Ukraine and the parliamentary election campaign.

Putin said that residents of Donbas and Novorossiya, Ukrainian territories claimed and annexed by Russia, according to Moscow, would take part for the first time in electing Russian deputies. Ukraine and most of the international community reject the status of these regions.

The Russian president urged voters to cast their ballots “carefully and responsibly” and said he was confident that the candidates he described as competent and patriotic would win. He also included Russian service members involved in the fighting in Ukraine in his message, saying that they would take part in the election.

Following the withdrawal of the Yabloko party’s list, ten political formations remained on the federal ballot, including United Russia, the Communist Party and the Liberal Democratic Party. Russians will elect 450 deputies: 225 from party lists and 225 in single-member constituencies.