French actor Gerard Depardieu has been granted Russian citizenship by President Vlamir Putin.<br/> <br />The 63-year-old actor is embroiled in a bitter tax row with France's socialist government.<br/> <br />They accuse Depardieu of being unpatriotic for threatening to hand back his French passport.<br/> <br />The actor hit back, saying France is punishing success and talent.<br/> <br />In Paris on Thursday, passers-by were broadly upset by the actors decision.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) PASSER-BY JANINE SAYING:<br/> <br />"I find it completely inappropriate. I don't understand how you can give a nationality to someone who used France to get rich."<br/> <br />France is pushing ahead with plans to impose a 75-percent super tax on income over 1 million euros.<br/> <br />Russia has a flat income tax rate of 13 percent.<br/> <br />Depardieu is well-known in Russia, appearing in many advertising campaigns.<br/> <br />Last year he also starred in a film about eccentric Russian monk Rasputin.
