Head of Sakha Republic issues invitation to US actor who is concerned over climate change in this region.
Yegor Borisov invited Leo DiCaprio to visit Sakha Republic 'at any time'. Picture: Yegor Borisov
The US actor was recently awarded a Siberian Oscar after some 150 women in Yakutia - also called Sakha Republic - melted their gold and silver jewellery to create the statuette.
Now the republic's government has invited Leonardo DiCaprio to make an official visit to Russia's largest region.
The invitation was issued by Yegor Borisov, head of the Yakutian government. 'The actor has received an invitation to visit our republic at any time,' said Vladimir Vasilyev, the republic's external relations minister.
'Thank you to the people of Yakutia for this wonderful gift, especially all of the women who gathered and donated the materials that went into creating the statue.' Pictures: YSIA, @leonardodicaprio
After receiving the Siberian award which was flown to the US, DiCaprio said: 'Thank you to the people of Yakutia for this wonderful gift, especially all of the women who gathered and donated the materials that went into creating the statue.
'As they wrote in their letter, Yakutia is home to the coldest inhabited place not only in Russia, but also on Earth - and the region is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures pose a major threat to its people, their way of life and their natural habitat.'
DiCaprio has Russian roots. His maternal grandmother is believed to have been from the Urals.
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