ENTERTAINMENT

Belarus president, 'Europe's last dictator,' gives Gerard Depardieu a lesson in hand-scything

The Associated Press Published Thursday, July 23, 2015 7:26AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, July 23, 2015 7:27AM EDT

In this photo taken Wednesday, July 22, 2015, Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko and French actor Gerard Depardieu, left, hold hand scythes as they walk in the presidential residence of Ozerny, outside Minsk, Belarus. (Andrei Stasevich/ BelTA Photo via AP)

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MINSK, Belarus -- The president of Belarus, who is popularly described as Europe's last dictator, has given French actor Gerard Depardieu a lesson in hand-scything.

Depardieu took Russian citizenship in 2013 in a bid to escape sky-high taxes in France. He has recently attracted the wrath of the Ukrainian government by condoning Russia's annexation of Crimea.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who is running for re-election in October, hosted Depardieu in his residence north of the capital Minsk on Wednesday and gave him a lesson in scything the grass on the estate. After the scything, performed in front of television cameras, Depardieu was treated to traditional Belarusian food and home-distilled vodka.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is expected to be re-elected for the next term.