Article Excerpt
BY LUKAS I. ALPERT
MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship Thursday to French actor Gérard Depardieu, whose bitter fight over taxes with France's government has led him to give up his passport.
A statement posted on the government website said Mr. Putin had signed a decree in response to "an application for citizenship of the Russian Federation" on behalf of "Depardieu Gérard Xavier, who was born in France in 1948."
In a letter Russia's main state-run broadcaster said it had received from the actor, Mr. Depardieu said he was pleased his request had been accepted.
"I adore your country, Russia, your people, your history, ...
Continue reading article with pop up player
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/img/wsj_select_p_571x51.gif)
![[image]](http://s2.wsj.net/img/wsj_select_p_377x107.gif)
Most Recommended
“He not only has been absent,he h...;”
“A lot of my liberal friends are...;”
“The overarching fact that...;”
“No, not at all. Market actors wa...;”
“There's a little bit of irony in...;”