French actor Depardieu gets residence permit in Mordovia

"All honor to Russia, all honor to Mordovia. This is a region which is not rich in oil and gas but it is rich people, who embody ideas into life," Valery Maresyev quoted Depardieu as saying after he received a Russian passport with a residence permit stamp on it.

The actor has been registered in an apartment belonging to the relatives of his long-time friend, Nikolai Borodachyov, Director of the National Film Fund. Depardieu said he plans to build a private house in the republic in the future, RIA Novosti reported.

Depardieu said his decision to be registered in Mordovia is not just a formality and is a serious and deliberate decision as the actor plans to become a frequent visitor of Russia and Mordovia.

On Friday, Depardieu told reporters at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow he wanted to launch a series of TV programs based on Russian literature and involving actors from different countries, and to show the series across the globe.

Read full version