NEARLY 57% TURNOUT IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 20 /SRNA-RIA Novosti/ – Voter turnout in elections to the State Duma reached nearly 57% according to preliminary data, United Russia party chairman Dmitry Medvedev said.

Medvedev held a meeting on Sunday evening with United Russia's regional branches to discuss the preliminary results.

"If we are talking about the State Duma elections, turnout, according to preliminary data, reached around 57%. This is probably the highest result in the past several years," Medvedev said.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russian voters had faced difficulties in Western countries during the parliamentary elections, particularly in the three Baltic states.

"They are creating difficulties for Russians living in Western countries who want to express their will. This applies particularly to the Baltic states, but also more broadly," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.

He added that the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, should be sovereign and made up of lawmakers who understand Russia's interests.