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| Gérard Depardieu - set to be banned from Ukraine? Photo: Richard Mowe |
A nervous Ukrainian government has prepared a list of 500 cultural figures it sees as potential security threats, according to the country's Pravda newspaper. Gérard Depardieu, an official resident of Russia since he left his native France for tax reasons, is understood to be included on it, as are Steven Seagal and Emir Kusturica.
Depardieu, who referred to Ukraine as part of Russia in a speech in Latvia in 2014, has yet to comment on the list, which could see him forbidden to enter the country. It was developed following protests at the Minister of Culture by self-styled human rights organisation Vidsich, which argues that it is not possible to be neutral about the situation between Ukraine and Russia, and which sees the promotion of views sympathetic to Russia as a threat to the country's survival.
Yury Zubko, the deputy Culture Minister, said that the people on the list are still under investigation and that it will have to be approved by the courts before being put to formal use. A final version is set to be published on the 3rd of August.
The Ministry has denied suggestions that the proposed ban could extend to films made by or featuring the people on the list.
