KIEV, July 22 (TASS) – Famous actor Gerard Depardieu and 566 other actors, musicians and performers have been put on Ukraine’s list of “personae non gratae”, Ukraine’s Culture Ministry said on Wednesday.
According to the culture ministry, the people on the list present a threat to Ukraine’s national security. The list has been sent to Ukraine’s Security Service, National Security and Defense Council and National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, the ministry’s press service confirmed adding that it was compiled by activists who demanded “to ban these people on Ukraine’s television and radio.”
A source in the Ukrainian government earlier told TASS that among “personae non gratae” are also Serbian singer and composer Goran Bregovic and US actor Steven Seagal.
Ukraine’s Culture Minister Vyacheslav Kirilenko said that it was possible that Kiev will introduce certain restrictions against the people on the list.
“The list consisting of 500 people that was compiled by activists was sent to Ukraine’s Security Service that will investigate whether there are threats to territorial integrity, issue a statement.
Only after that the sanctions regime [against the people on the list] may be imposed,” the minister said.
Kirilenko reminded that “there is a list of 117 Russian entertainers who are threatening Ukraine’s national security.” The list was sent to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council in January, and Depardieu was put on the list, he added.
French actor Gerard Depardieu who obtained Russian citizenship in 2013 said in August last year that he loves “both Russia and Ukraine, which is part of Russia”. The Kiev authorities expressed concern with the statement.
Serbian singer and composer Goran Bregovic visited Sevastopol on March 26. After that, all his concerts in Ukraine were cancelled. Kiev said that the singer broke Ukrainian laws by entering Crimea through checkpoints not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. US actor Steven Seagal also paid a visit to Crimea last year.