MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and Andrey Fedyaev aboard the International Space Station (ISS) addressed Russians on the occasion of the start of voting in the State Duma elections. The cosmonauts will also take part in the vote.

"Dear citizens of the Russian Federation! We, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and Andrey Fedyaev, are addressing you from aboard the International Space Station. Today, polling stations are opening across our country for the State Duma elections. From Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, every adult citizen of the Russian Federation can come and cast their vote. People are electing for the next several years a key element of the system of representative government, those who will largely determine the development of our country," Dubrov said.

As Kikina, TASS special correspondent aboard the ISS, added, participating in elections is a direct opportunity to take part in governing the country. "Today, in many regions, people do not even have to leave home to do so, as Russia is developing its electronic voting system. And polling places have been set up in the most remote corners of Russia," she said.

"Despite being beyond Earth, we are also taking part in the vote through our authorized representative. Because today, when the entire country is choosing its path, we consider it necessary to fulfill our civic duty. Make your choice, and you will win," Fedyaev concluded.