Depardieu fails to attend court

8 January 2013 Last updated at 09:19 GMT On the eve of his court date, Mr Depardieu joined Fifa boss Sepp Blatter at the Ballon d'Or football awards ceremony in Zurich Gerard Depardieu has stayed away from a Paris court where he faces a drink-driving charge, days after taking Russian citizenship in a tax row.

The actor pleaded guilty earlier to riding a scooter while three times over the alcohol limit in November.

Last month, Depardieu announced his decision to move to Belgium to avoid a new French top tax rate of 75%.

The film star received his Russian passport at the weekend but retains his French citizenship.

On the eve of the court hearing, Depardieu was in Switzerland for the annual Ballon D'Or football award ceremony.

The BBC's Paris correspondent, Christian Fraser, notes that the actor's failure to appear before magistrates could mean the case being referred to a criminal court, which tends to be less lenient.

Wine

The charge of drink-driving carries a maximum fine of 4,500 euros (£3,660; $5,880) and a sentence of up to two years in prison, along with six penalty points.

On 29 November, he lost control of his scooter in Paris and crashed. A breathalyser test showed he had a blood alcohol rate of 1.8g per litre, more than three times the French legal limit of 0.5g.

Depardieu, who owns several vineyards, once admitted to drinking up to six bottles of wine a day.

Depardieu's tax row with the French authorities began last year after President Francois Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400).

The actor says he remains French despite receiving a Russian passport

The film star, renowned for his roles in Cyrano de Bergerac and more recently as Obelix, announced in early December that he would move to Belgium, accusing France's Socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent".

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded his decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic".

The actor has developed close ties with Russia and during his visit at the weekend hugged President Vladimir Putin, who described him as a friend.

Russia has offered him a flat tax rate of 13% if he stays in the country for more than half the year. On his trip to Russia he travelled to the central region of Mordovia, which has invited him to make his home there.

Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.

French taxman

But the actor said on Monday he was not turning his back on his country.

"I have a Russian passport, but I remain French and I will probably have dual Belgian nationality," he told French sports channel L'Equipe 21.

Under France's civil code, dual citizenship is permitted but it is unlawful to be stateless. A person must obtain another nationality before giving up French citizenship.

Depardieu also rejected claims that his decision to move abroad was to avoid paying taxes. "If I'd wanted to escape the taxman, as the French press say, I would have done it a long time ago."

He made the remarks in Zurich where he was attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in the company of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter.

View the original article here

AUDIO: Depardieu to move to Mordovia

The Russian region of Mordovia has invited French actor Gerard Depardieu to set up home there, hours after he received his Russian passport.

It has been reported by Governor Vladimir Volkov said he could choose an apartment or a place to build a house.

Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.

Mr Depardieu has taken Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Edward Lucas, international editor of the Economist and a former Moscow bureau chief, said that President Putin is keen to entice people of Depardieu's status and said he had already "got his hooks into this international glitterati."

Referring to Mordovia itself, Mr Lucas added, "I've been to places like it and it's not the sort of place that you want to go to for very long... It's an extremely dull place."

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.

View the original article here

Depardieu becomes Russian citizen

3 January 2013 Last updated at 21:45 GMT Gerard Depardieu played eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin in a Franco-Russian film in 2011 Actor Gerard Depardieu has hailed Russia's decision to grant him citizenship, following a tax row with the government in his native France.

In an open letter, he said he loved Russia, calling it "a great democracy".

Mr Depardieu had recently announced he would give up his French passport after the government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Moscow earlier said President Vladimir Putin had personally signed the decree granting the actor Russian citizenship.

In December, Mr Putin had said he would be happy to welcome the actor in his new country. "If he'd like to have a Russian passport, consider it settled," Mr Putin said.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had called Mr Depardieu's decision to leave the country "shabby".

In the letter, broadcast on Thursday on Russian TV station Pervyi Kanal, Mr Depardieu said: "I filed a passport application and I am pleased that it was accepted.

"I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers. I love your culture, your intelligence."

He said that he had spoken to French President Francois Hollande and told him Russia was "a great democracy, and not a country where the prime minister calls one of its citizens shabby".

'Friend of Putin'

Under France's civil code, dual citizenship is permitted but it is unlawful to be stateless.

A person must obtain another nationality before giving up French citizenship.

Mr Depardieu's highly publicised tax row began last year after Mr Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400).

The actor accused the new socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent", and announced in early December that he would move to Belgium.

Moscow residents on Depardieu becoming a Russian citizen

Although the Constitutional Council struck down the tax rise proposal on Sunday, Mr Depardieu said this did not change the situation "one bit".

The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says the series of events would be amusingly eccentric, were it not also serious in its implications for France's international image.

Mr Depardieu, described by Mr Putin as a successful businessman and 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.

In 2011, he played the lead role in the film Rasputin, a Franco-Russian production about the life of eccentric monk Grigory Rasputin.

In addition, Mr Depardieu has also helped raise funds for a children's hospital in St Petersburg.

View the original article here

AUDIO: Depardieu to move to Mordovia

The Russian region of Mordovia has invited French actor Gerard Depardieu to set up home there, hours after he received his Russian passport.

It has been reported by Governor Vladimir Volkov said he could choose an apartment or a place to build a house.

Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.

Mr Depardieu has taken Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Edward Lucas, international editor of the Economist and a former Moscow bureau chief, said that President Putin is keen to entice people of Depardieu's status and said he had already "got his hooks into this international glitterati."

Referring to Mordovia itself, Mr Lucas added, "I've been to places like it and it's not the sort of place that you want to go to for very long... It's an extremely dull place."

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.

View the original article here

Depardieu handed Russian passport

6 January 2013 Last updated at 16:14 GMT Gerard Depardieu and Vladimir Putin met in the Russian resort of Sochi French actor Gerard Depardieu has met President Vladimir Putin and has been handed his new Russian passport.

The actor had 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.

Mr Depardieu was then given his new passport, although the president's spokesman said Mr Putin did not hand it over personally.

Mr Depardieu and Mr Putin shook hands and hugged each other at the meeting in Sochi.

The actor was later invited to set up home in the central Russian region of Mordovia, known for its Stalin-era prison camps.

Local governor Vladimir Volkov said Mr Depardieu could choose an apartment or a place to build a house, Interfax news agency reported.

After arriving in Mordovia's main city of Saransk, the actor showed of his new passport, saying: "I am very happy, it's very beautiful here. Beautiful and soulful people live here."

Earlier this week, Mr Putin signed the decree granting Russian citizenship to Mr Depardieu.

Wearing folk costume, Gerard Depardieu showed off his new Russian passport after arriving in Saransk, Mordovia

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 to describe Russia as "a great democracy, and not a country where the prime minister calls one of its citizens shabby".

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.

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.

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.

View the original article here

AUDIO: Depardieu to move to Mordovia

The Russian region of Mordovia has invited French actor Gerard Depardieu to set up home there, hours after he received his Russian passport.

It has been reported by Governor Vladimir Volkov said he could choose an apartment or a place to build a house.

Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.

Mr Depardieu has taken Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Edward Lucas, international editor of the Economist and a former Moscow bureau chief, said that President Putin is keen to entice people of Depardieu's status and said he had already "got his hooks into this international glitterati."

Referring to Mordovia itself, Mr Lucas added, "I've been to places like it and it's not the sort of place that you want to go to for very long... It's an extremely dull place."

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.

View the original article here

Depardieu handed Russian passport

6 January 2013 Last updated at 08:51 GMT Gerard Depardieu and Vladimir Putin met in the Russian resort of Sochi French actor Gerard Depardieu has met President Vladimir Putin and has been handed his new Russian passport.

The actor had 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.

Mr Depardieu was then given his new passport, although the president's spokesman said Mr Putin did not hand it over personally.

Mr Depardieu and Mr Putin shook hands and hugged each other at the meeting in Sochi.

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."

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'

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.

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.

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.

View the original article here

Depardieu becomes Russian citizen

3 January 2013 Last updated at 21:45 GMT Gerard Depardieu played eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin in a Franco-Russian film in 2011 Actor Gerard Depardieu has hailed Russia's decision to grant him citizenship, following a tax row with the government in his native France.

In an open letter, he said he loved Russia, calling it "a great democracy".

Mr Depardieu had recently announced he would give up his French passport after the government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Moscow earlier said President Vladimir Putin had personally signed the decree granting the actor Russian citizenship.

In December, Mr Putin had said he would be happy to welcome the actor in his new country. "If he'd like to have a Russian passport, consider it settled," Mr Putin said.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had called Mr Depardieu's decision to leave the country "shabby".

In the letter, broadcast on Thursday on Russian TV station Pervyi Kanal, Mr Depardieu said: "I filed a passport application and I am pleased that it was accepted.

"I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers. I love your culture, your intelligence."

He said that he had spoken to French President Francois Hollande and told him Russia was "a great democracy, and not a country where the prime minister calls one of its citizens shabby".

'Friend of Putin'

Under France's civil code, dual citizenship is permitted but it is unlawful to be stateless.

A person must obtain another nationality before giving up French citizenship.

Mr Depardieu's highly publicised tax row began last year after Mr Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400).

The actor accused the new socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent", and announced in early December that he would move to Belgium.

Moscow residents on Depardieu becoming a Russian citizen

Although the Constitutional Council struck down the tax rise proposal on Sunday, Mr Depardieu said this did not change the situation "one bit".

The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says the series of events would be amusingly eccentric, were it not also serious in its implications for France's international image.

Mr Depardieu, described by Mr Putin as a successful businessman and 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.

In 2011, he played the lead role in the film Rasputin, a Franco-Russian production about the life of eccentric monk Grigory Rasputin.

In addition, Mr Depardieu has also helped raise funds for a children's hospital in St Petersburg.

View the original article here