The France best-known actor Gerard Depardeiu, received a Russian passport after flying to Black Sea resort of Sochi, to have dinner with President Vladimir Putin. 

Depardieu a popular figure in Russia, objected to France's new tax on millionaires. On Wednesday Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Depardieu's choice "rather pathetic," adding "to pay tax is an act of solidarity, a patriotic act," to France 2 television. The new tax imposed by the socialist government may be as high as 75 percent for those who have incomes above 1 million Euros.

The 64 year-old now has a Russian passport from President Putin. According to Demitry Peskov, Russian President's spokesman, the two had a private dinner meeting in Black Sea resort of Sochi. On Sunday the spokesman confirmed that "Depardieu was givien his new Russian passport," according to Associated Press. The actors has previously worked in many Russian ad campaigns and films including 2011 making of a film about Russian 'Mad Monk' Grigori Rasputin.

Depardieu has won many acting awards including the Golden globe for Best Actor in the film green Card, and has been nominated for an Academy Award for Cyrano de Bergerac, and has twice won The César Award the national film award of France.