Russia names action-movie star Seagal as US envoy

Moscow : Russia has appointed action movie star Steven Seagal as a special envoy for humanitarian ties with the United States. The Foreign Ministry announced the move yesterday on its Facebook page, saying Seagal’s portfolio in the unpaid position would be to “facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.”

Seagal is an accomplished martial artist — like Russian President Vladimir Putin. The actor, who was granted Russian citizenship in 2016, has vocally defended the Russian leader’s policies, including Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, and has criticised the US government. Last year, Ukraine banned Seagal from entering the country for five years, citing national security reasons.

The Flight of Fury star, still popular with Russian audiences, has recently defended the Russian government over claims that it meddled in 2016 US elections. The 66-year-old has called President Putin “one of the great living world leaders”, and when Seagal was granted Russian citizenship, said he hoped it would be a symbol of how relations between Moscow and Washington were starting to improve. Seagal was also granted Serbian citizenship in 2016, following several visits to the Balkan country.