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| Gerard Depardieu in Russia to get new citizenship | Gerard Depardieu in Russia to get new citizenship |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| French actor Gerard Depardieu has arrived in Russia, where he has been granted citizenship and a private meeting with President Vladimir Putin. | French actor Gerard Depardieu has arrived in Russia, where he has been granted citizenship and a private meeting with President Vladimir Putin. |
| A Kremlin spokesman said Mr Depardieu may receive his new Russian passport personally from the president. | A Kremlin spokesman said Mr Depardieu may receive his new Russian passport personally from the president. |
| The actor announced he was seeking Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes. | The actor announced he was seeking Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes. |
| Last month Mr Putin had said he would be happy to welcome him to Russia. | Last month Mr Putin had said he would be happy to welcome him to Russia. |
| The president will hold a private meeting with the actor in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Mr Putin's spokesman said. | |
| Earlier this week President Putin signed the decree granting Russian citizenship to Mr Depardieu. | Earlier this week President Putin signed the decree granting Russian citizenship to Mr Depardieu. |
| The actor responded by writing an open letter saying: "I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers. I love your culture, your intelligence." | The actor responded by writing an open letter saying: "I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers. I love your culture, your intelligence." |
| Mr Depardieu went on describe Russia as "a great democracy, and not a country where the prime minister calls one of its citizens shabby". | Mr Depardieu went on describe Russia as "a great democracy, and not a country where the prime minister calls one of its citizens shabby". |
| 'Friend of Putin' | 'Friend of Putin' |
| Mr Depardieu's highly publicised tax row began last year after new President Francois Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400). | Mr Depardieu's highly publicised tax row began last year after new President Francois Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400). |
| The actor accused the socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent", and announced in early December that he would move to Belgium. | The actor accused the socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent", and announced in early December that he would move to Belgium. |
| French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded his decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic". | French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded his decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic". |
| The actor, described by Mr Putin as a friend, has developed close ties with Russia, which has a flat 13% personal income tax rate. | The actor, described by Mr Putin as a friend, has developed close ties with Russia, which has a flat 13% personal income tax rate. |
| He currently appears in an advertisement for Sovietsky Bank's credit card and is prominently featured on the bank's home page. | He currently appears in an advertisement for Sovietsky Bank's credit card and is prominently featured on the bank's home page. |
| In 2011, he played the lead role in the film Rasputin, a Franco-Russian production about the life of eccentric monk Grigory Rasputin. | In 2011, he played the lead role in the film Rasputin, a Franco-Russian production about the life of eccentric monk Grigory Rasputin. |