Putin thanks Russians for their 'trust' after United Russia election win

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with head of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova, via a video conference call at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia September 20, 2021. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday thanked Russians for their trust after the ruling United Russia party that supports him won an emphatic parliamentary majority in an election that opponents said was marred by large-scale fraud.

"Special words of thanks, of course, I want to address to the citizens of Russia, to thank you for your trust, dear friends," Putin said on state television.