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Gerard Depardieu Takes Shot at Producing Eco-Friendly Vodka

Luke Ciriani (L), a regional minister for trade and industry, and actor Gerard Depardieu at a stand of Friuli Venezia Giulia at the 44th edition of Vinitaly 2010 in Verona, Italy.

Famed French actor Gerard Depardieu announced on Monday that he was planning to produce "bio-vodka" in Russia, an environmentally friendly version of the spirit made from spring water.

"This will be my first experience with manufacturing spirits, and I hope it will be successful," Depardieu said during a visit to Saratov, ITAR-Tass reported. "Nevertheless, I would like to see as more people choose wine as their alcoholic beverage of choice."

Depardieu also spoke about his plans to open an eponymous restaurant chain and launch a line of kitchen accessories in Russia.

In January 2013, President Vladimir Putin granted Depardieu Russian citizenship. The actor announced his intention in 2012 to renounce his French citizenship in response to President Francois Hollande's attempt to impose a 75 percent tax on France's wealthiest individuals. Depardieu is currently registered in the city of Saransk, the capital of the republic of Mordovia.

See also:

Depardieu's Restaurant, Russia Bans Milkiland Imports
: Business in Brief

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