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Kiev neither confirms nor denies Gerard Depardieu's inclusion in personae non gratae list

The list is for internal use only, the information is classified

KIEV, July 22. /TASS/. Ukraine’s Culture Ministry has made a list of personae non gratae, the ministry’s press service told TASS adding that the list will not be made public. "There is a list, but it is for internal use only, that information is classified," a press service spokesperson noted. She refused to comment on whether Depardieu was put on the list of foreign entertainers whose presence in Ukraine is undesirable.

The press service also refused to clarify whether the list will be published on August 3. Ouest-France magazine reported earlier that French actor Gerard Depardieu, who obtained Russian citizenship in 2013, was included in Ukraine’s personae non gratae list because "Ukraine’s Culture Ministry considers him a threat to national security."

On July 8, several media reported that Ukraine’s Culture Ministry made a list of Russian entertainers allegedly threatening the country’s national security. Ukrainian deputy culture minister Yury Zubko said that the list included 117 people. "Ukraine’s State Security Service is investigating and will submit appropriate materials to the court, whose final decision is required to include a person in the list," Zubko noted adding that "the list will be published on the official website by August 3."