How did Depardieu get a Russian passport?
Actor Gerard Depardieu received Russian citizenship in early January 2013. The relevant decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The decree includes the following statements: “In accordance with paragraph “a” of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, to meet the application of Depardieu Gerard Xavier, born in France in 1948, for admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation.” press service Kremlin.
Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov later said: “Interfax”He said that the president decided to issue a Russian passport to the Frenchman for his significant contribution to Russian culture and cinema.
“The fact is that Depardieu starred in a number of very large film projects, playing roles, including his work on the role of Rasputin. This film hasn’t been released here yet, but it’s a very bold and new voice for this role,” explained Peskov.
According to Depardieu, Putin called him personally and sent a plane to pick him up. The actor received his Russian passport during his meeting with Putin in Sochi, where he came for a private visit on the evening of January 5.
“[Путин] called and said: “Gerard, come.” He sent a plane for me. He gave me a passport,” Depardieu said in an interview with French television channel Canal+.
Such a quick grant of citizenship to a foreigner caused a wave of indignation: usually this procedure takes much longer. A day after receiving his passport, Depardieu arrived in Saransk, where the Mordovian leadership offered him housing. Soon the holder of the passport of the Russian Federation was awarded the title “Honorary Udmurt”. And in February, the president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, gave the actor the keys to a five-room apartment in Grozny and awarded him the title of honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic.
In 2018, the actor received a residence permit in Novosibirsk, where he began working on commercial and cultural projects.
Why does Depardieu need Russian citizenship?
In addition to Russia, the actor also has Belgian, UAE and Algerian citizenship. In 2012, he gave up his French citizenship because the country planned to impose a 75 percent tax on those whose annual income exceeds 1 million euros. The idea of a “wealth tax” was brought up in the election campaign of former French President François Hollande. but it was not implemented. Still, Depardieu decided to take a chance, because if a person physically stays in Russia for 183 days, he can exercise his right of residence and pay 13% tax. Even if the player did not want to live in Russia, his taxes would be 30%, which is acceptable. By comparison, France has a progressive tax rate of up to 45%.
As one economic observer wrote in 2013 RIA News Anna Koledina benefited from Depardieu’s citizenship in Russia:
“[Общественность] Depardieu, who not only expressed the joy and desire to learn Russian, but also confessed his love for Russia’s leadership, that we have the most developed democracy, and that his grandfather was a communist, became an important figure in every sense.
Business in Russia
After arriving in Russia, Depardieu registered as an individual entrepreneur. The actor opened his own cultural center in Saransk in 2016. Open Web site The regional administration reported that the then president of Mordovia, Vladimir Volkov, and the general director of the Russian State Film Fund, Nikolai Borodachev, attended the event.
“I am proud to live in Saransk. I am grateful to my friends Vladimir Volkov and Nikolai Borodachev, who contributed to the emergence of this wonderful cinema center. I am very happy that there is a wonderful temple in front of the cinema; culture and spirituality must always go side by side,” said Depardieu.
Moving to Novosibirsk, the actor founded the Tastes of France company there, which was liquidated in 2020 – according to lawyer Yuri Mosman, the closure occurred due to the “inappropriate organizational and legal structure of the joint-stock company.” The artist made dumplings, dry sausages, dumplings, sweets, dairy products, etc. in Moscow. He opened a similar company, Tastes of France, which began producing The product packaging featured a black and white photograph of a young Depardieu.
According to the website Rusprofile.ru, the actor also registered the liquidated PC ZhD LLC (production of films, videos and television programs) in his name. The resource lists individual entrepreneur Depardieu Gerard Xavier (activities in the field of arts and entertainment) as valid.
Also in the summer of 2021, Depardieu and restaurateur Denis Ivanov announced the opening of a neo-bistro business called “Gerarnya” in Novosibirsk. Due to sanctions difficulties, the project was frozen in February 2022. And in August 2023, Ivanov announced that the plant would still open – preparatory work had already begun at the facility.
“It was a little unclear how we would bring Depardieu here and send our employees to France for internships. But now we have found a solution,” Ivanov told the site. “Novosibirsk Online”.
According to the source, Gérarny’s opening is planned for the first quarter of 2024. The establishment will be located in the estate of the merchant Surikov.
Where is Depardieu now?
In April 2015, rumors appeared on the Internet that Depardieu had sold all his real estate in Russia and was also planning to renounce his citizenship and move to Belgium. However, director Depardieu denied this information. In October 2015, the actor showed his Russian passport at a press conference in Moscow. He also said that he does not like American culture.
“I never wanted to become a US citizen, this is not even discussed, they have a very aggressive culture. And I don’t like his movies. If Europeans stop listening to Americans, the situation will get better. And I love my Russian passport, I feel very Russian inside,” says Depardieu. RIA News.
The actor also spoke about his love for Russia in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine in December 2015: “I am ready to die for Russia because the people there are strong; “I don’t want to die like a fool in today’s France.”
But in 2015, Depardieu actually moved to Belgium, and three years later to Algeria, where he bought vineyards. After the start of Russia’s special military operation against Ukraine, the actor criticized the actions of the Russian authorities. The State Duma proposed stripping Depardieu of Russian citizenship and subsequently closed the artist production center. Also, II. He also suspended work on the film “Normandy – Neman”, dedicated to the French pilots who fought in the USSR during World War II. In February 2023, Depardieu described his attitude towards Russia in an interview with the German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine:
“I’m still Russian. I love Russian culture. “If I love a country, it’s just for its culture.”
The actor refused to comment on his statements regarding the special operation and asked that “politics and acting should not be mixed”. According to Depardieu’s representative Arnaud Frille, the artist I do not agree efforts to help refugees and plans to return to Russia.
In December 2023, a scandal involving Depardieu broke out; 13 women accused him of sexual violence. In this regard, it was proposed to deprive the player of the Legion of Honor. French President Emmanuel Macron and about 50 artists, including actor Pierre Richard and singer Carla Bruni, stood by Depardieu. Read more about this material “socialbites.ca”.