The Daily Star, AFP, January 04, 2013
MOSCOW:
Russians reacted Friday with amusement, disbelief and a heavy dose of irony to
the news that the Kremlin has granted citizenship to French actor Gerard
Depardieu to solve his tax woes.
In a letter
broadcast on Russian television on Thursday, the former Oscar nominee declared
his love for President Vladimir Putin and called Russia a "great
democracy."
"He is
impressed by our democracy -- he has completely lost his marbles," wrote
one Facebook user, Vladimir Sokolov.
Far-left
politician Eduard Limonov suggested Depardieu could reprise his famous film
role of French revolutionary Georges Danton and risk detention by riot police
at a regular unsanctioned rally against Putin.
"Gerard,
come to Triumfalnaya Square on January 31 with your new Russian passport in
your pocket," Limonov wrote on his blog.
"Our
French friend: here's an invitation to a real historical role."
Depardieu
seemed unlikely to take up this offer after Putin praised their "very
friendly, personal relationship" at a recent news conference.
Many
jokingly speculated about how the film star might adapt to life as a Russian
pensioner if he moved after threatening to renounce his French citizenship over
a proposed 75-percent tax rate on the super rich.
If
Depardieu, 64, opted to live in Russia more than half the tax year, he would
pay just 13 percent tax to the government whose budget is highly dependent on
state-owned energy resources.
"We're
going to meet him pushing a trolley in the shop, in the queue for blood tests
at the polyclinic or at the social security office," wrote journalist and
blogger Anton Orekh on the website of popular Moscow Echo radio station.
"I'm
ready to give him registration in my apartment, he can stay as long as he
likes," wrote television host Tina Kandelaki on Twitter.
Depardieu,
like other Russian citizens, would have to register at his place of residence
with local authorities.
Yet many
also questioned the morality of Russia's fast-tracking Depardieu's citizenship
request.
His public
opposition to paying high taxes in France showed he "loves money more than
motherland," wrote Orekh.
"Let's
give our passports to everyone who has lots of money and doesn't want to pay
taxes at home!"
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