MOSCOW, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has offered Russian citizenship to actor Gerard Depardieu, who is leaving France for tax reasons.
"In accordance with clause 'A' of article 89 of the Russian Constitution, the application for Russian citizenship by Gerard Xavier Depardieu born in France in 1948 has been granted," the Kremlin press office said in a statement to RIA Novosti.