Gérard Depardieu is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin . Malcolm Fraser : Depardieu is not the only one who wants to escape France 's high taxes . He says the French are suspicious of money and hostile toward the wealthy . Fraser : Tax exile is frowned on in France , a country where fiscal obligation is considered a gesture of loyalty to the French nation . Fraser 's decision to become a Russian citizen is seen as a betrayal of France .
Gérard Depardieu is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin . Malcolm Fraser : Depardieu is not the only one who wants to escape France 's high taxes . He says the French are suspicious of money and hostile toward the wealthy . Fraser : Fraser 's decision to become a Russian citizen is seen as a betrayal of France .