AFP | French actor and Russian citizen Gerard Depardieu at a cultural centre opened in his name in Saransk on August 27, 2016

French-born actor Gérard Depardieu on Saturday inaugurated a cultural and film centre bearing his name in Saransk, the capital of the Russian region of Mordovia in which Depardieu is a registered resident, local media reported.

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The 67-year-old film icon travelled Saturday afternoon from Paris to Saransk, where he was welcomed by local leaders. Depardieu spoke in front of several hundred people, according to photographs of the event released to the media.

"Russia: Gerard Depardieu opens cultural centre named after him in Saransk" YouTube https://t.co/vIlvl1kxC3 — journalist (@bushi_jp) August 28, 2016

“I am very flattered that a cultural centre will have my name. It’s too bad that I can’t come to Saransk more often,” Depardieu said, the local newspaper Izvestia Mordovii reported.

“In Mordovia, I feel like a true Russian ... I am also a resident of Saransk and I am going to vote in the elections,” he added.

Depardieu has opened a cultural center in its own name in Saransk: https://t.co/FZNvhXaSXd #news #Russia — Rus to En Fr Es News (@Rus_Eng_News) August 28, 2016

Depardieu, known internationally for his roles in films such as "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Green Card", is officially registered as a resident and entrepreneur in Saransk, a city of 300,000 in habitants located about 650 kilometres east of Moscow.

The actor was granted Russian citizenship at the beginning of 2013. The move came after Depardieu caused a scandal by giving up his French passport as a protest against French president François Hollande’s proposal to tax France’s highest earnest earners at over 75 percent.

In 2014, Depardieu announced plans to open a restaurant in Moscow and an arts centre in Saransk. He also has mentioned a wish to launch a line of organic vodka.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)



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