Russian President Vladimir Putin cast a vote on Sunday at a Moscow polling station for the election of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, dropped ballots at the No. 2074 polling station located in the Russian Academy of Science building, several kilometers away from the Kremlin.
Putin, who is also leading the United Russia party in the election, refused to tell which party he voted for.
"Thank God, the election campaign has ended," he said, "I believe voters have made their decision and they just have to cast their ballots for the party whose creed will win out in the race and for those candidates they trust in."
Other senior government officials, including widely expected presidential candidates Premier Vicktor Zubkov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, have also cast ballots on Sunday.
After casting his ballot, Ivanov said he voted for Russia's future, which is "calm, predictable and without shocks."
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov said earlier Sunday that the next State Duma will map out plans for tangible economic and social development, and take care of the senior and young generations as well.
He also hailed Putin as a "national leader," whatever post he takes after stepping down next year.
Putin, who leads the pro-Kremlin United Russia in the election, has said the election will set tune for the next presidential election slated for March 2008, when he is expected to step down due to constitutional ban on a third consecutive term.
Source: Xinhua
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