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Gerard Depardieu in Russia to get new citizenship Gerard Depardieu meets Putin, receives Russian passport
(about 11 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 met President Vladimir Putin and has been handed his new Russian passport.
A Kremlin spokesman said Mr Depardieu may receive his new Russian passport personally from the president. The actor had 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. Mr Depardieu met Mr Putin in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Last month Mr Putin had said he would be happy to welcome him to Russia. Mr Depardieu was then given his new passport, although the president's spokesman said Mr Putin did not hand it over personally.
The president will hold a private meeting with the actor in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Mr Putin's spokesman said. Mr Depardieu and Mr Putin shook hands and hugged each other at the meeting in Sochi.
Earlier this week President Putin signed the decree granting Russian citizenship to Mr Depardieu. Earlier this week, Mr 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 to 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.