MOSCOW, May 11. /TASS/. The people of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics eight years ago made their choice in a referendum in favor of building their life in independent states, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in a message of greeting on the occasion of the republics’ 8th anniversary.

"Eight years ago, the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics held referendums on self-determination. The people of the DPR and LPR made their choice in a referendum in a free and democratic way, thus exercising their right to self-determination, and made a decision to build their life as independent states. I wish the people of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics happiness, health and prosperity," Volodin said on the State Duma’s website on Wednesday.

He stressed that after the government coup in Ukraine in 2014 the people of Donbass refused to tolerate the dictatorial regime in Kiev.

"Human rights were ignored, the interests of Donbass people were defied, their mother tongue was banned and a distorted version of history was imposed," Volodin said.

On May 11, 2014, Donbass held referendums on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics. In the Donetsk Region, 89.7% voted for self-determination. In the Lugansk Region, the proposal was supported by 96.2%. On May 12, the Donetsk and Lugansk republics proclaimed state sovereignty. The Donetsk republic adopted its Constitution on May 14, and the Lugansk republic, on May 18. Kiev and the Western countries refused to recognize the plebiscites.

The DPR on Wednesday is celebrating is 8th anniversary. This year it is doing so for the first time as a sovereign state recognized by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 declared the recognition of the DPR and LPR in accordance with their constitutions within the borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions as of the beginning of 2014. On February 24, in response to a request for assistance from the leaders of the Donbass republics, he launched a special military operation. The Donetsk and Lugansk republics began their own campaigns for the liberation of their territories remaining under Kiev’s control.