Gerard Depardieu accepts Russian passport from President Putin

French actor Gerard Depardieu has received a Russian passport after flying to Russia for a late-night dinner with President Vladimir Putin.

Depardieu sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France, and Mr Putin granted his request last week.

Russian television showed Mr Putin embracing the actor as he arrived late on Saturday at the president’s residence in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The two men were then seen chatting over supper.

Mr Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that Depardieu had been given his new Russian passport.