Russia grants Depardieu citizenship

French actor Gerard Depardieu, who has been battling with his home country over taxes, has been granted Russian citizenship.

A brief announcement on the Kremlin website said President Vladimir Putin signed the citizenship grant today.

Depardieu is angered by French President Francois Hollande’s attempt to raise taxes on the mega-rich to 75%.

Russia has a flat income tax of 13%.

Depardieu has made more than 150 films, among them the 1991 comedy 'Green Card' about a man who enters into a marriage of convenience in order to get US residency.