PARIS, January 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin did more for the protection of animals than all his French counterparts, legend of the French screen and famous defender of animals Brigitte Bardot said in an interview, which was published in the regional newspaper Nice Matin on Saturday. The excerpts from the interview were posted on the website of the newspaper on Friday.
The French actress has earlier filed an ultimatum to the French government and President Francois Hollande, pledging to apply for Russian citizenship to her, if French politicians do not interfere in a scandalous situation at the circus in Lyons, where two elephants ill with tuberculosis are about to be euphanized.
“I am absolutely serious...This is enough for me! I do not support this country any longer,” Bardot said in the interview. “Beginning from (former French President Nicolas) Sarkozy and his broken promises, no one meets my requests. This helplessness makes me suffer and evokes a fierce anger in me,” she said. The actress noted that she “does not ask for something extraordinary” from the French authorities. “I am asking just for a reply to save these animals,” she explained.
Last Friday, Brigitte Bardot’s Foundation has made public Bardot’s statement, in which the French film legend promised to apply for Russian citizenship “to run away from this country that turned a cemetery for the animals,” “if those who are vested with the power, will allow killing two elephants Baby and Nepal cowardly and shamelessly.” Last Wednesday, Bardot wrote an open letter to the French president, in which she noted that “the elephants can be cured,” however, she did not receive any answer yet.
At the end of December 2012, the Lyons prefect ordered to euthanize Baby and Nepal, as they can be sick with tuberculosis. The owner of the circus was seeking to appeal this decision in court. However, in Bardot’s view, while the court proceedings continue, the animals can die, therefore, the actress also asked Hollande and the local authorities to permit a new medical examination of the elephants.
Speaking on the reasons for her choice to apply for Russian citizenship, the actress acknowledged that she is amazed with Putin. “I find him a very humane man. Each time, when I ask him for something, he helps me. He did more for the protection of the animals than all our presidents,” Bardot said.
At the end of 2011 Bardot sent a letter of gratitude to Putin, who occupied the post of the Russian prime minister at the time, because Russia and its partners in the Customs Union (Belarus and Kazakhstan) imposed a ban on the imports of the white coat of Greenland baby seals. “I am very much grateful to you that you always take attentively my addresses, and I regret that I lack such massive support in my homeland, which is lagging behind impermissibly in the defence of animals,” Bardot noted. “Dear Prime Minister, I wish you all the best in months and years to come. I thank you for this perfect Christmas gift and want to assure you of my respect and a true friendship,” she pointed out.
In January 2000 Putin sent a letter to the actress and praised her highly for her activities in the protection of animals. The president also expressed the gratitude to her that she is not indifferent to the fate of Russia. “Brigitte Bardot’s image as a defender of helpless species of the fauna is so popular in Russia today, as well as Brigitte Bardot’s creative activities as a film actress, who turned in a symbol of the whole generation,” Putin underlined.