French film star Gerard Depardieu was banned from Ukraine for five years, the Associated Press reported. Officials would not disclose the reason for barring the actor from the country.
Depardieu claimed citizenship in Russia in 2013 in order to escape taxes in his native France, according to Yahoo News. A spokeswoman for the National Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) would not disclose the reason for barring the 66-year-old actor from entering the country for five years.
The website Apostrof reportedly published a letter from the SBU that stated the reason for the ban was "in the interest of ensuring the security of our state."
The acclaimed actor reportedly caused outrage among Ukraine leaders after befriending Russian president Vladimir Putin and had been outspoken about his support for the annexation of Crimea.
"I love Russia and Ukraine, which is part of Russia," Depardieu said, Yahoo News reported.
Ukraine's culture ministry released a list of actors, musicians and other figures that it deemed as "Russia-friendly," and stated that they posed a national security threat.
After getting his big break in the 1974 film "Going Places," Depardieu established his role as the leading French actor in the 1970s and 1980s, according to IMDB. His 1990 film "Cyrano de Bergerac" earned him an Oscar award nomination.
