Action Star Known for Fighting Villains Calls Putin "Greatest Leader" After Attending Inauguration Ceremony

Steven Seagal, Known for Friendship with Putin, Attends Inauguration Ceremony

Former Hollywood action star Steven Seagal (71) drew attention by appearing at Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth inauguration ceremony.

On the 7th (local time), American entertainment media such as 'Life' reported that Seagal appeared at the Moscow Kremlin, where President Putin's inauguration ceremony was held. Seagal was one of about 2,600 invited guests. The media reported that he tied his long hair back, had a beard around his mouth, and wore black Oriental-style clothing.

Steven Seagal attending the 5th inauguration ceremony of President Vladimir Putin held at the Kremlin Palace in Russia
Photo by AP Yonhap News

At a meeting with reporters that day, Seagal praised President Putin as "the greatest leader in the world." When asked by the press if he had any message for Americans about Putin, he only replied, "I am very much looking forward to it."

Seagal holds dual American-Russian citizenship and has made pro-Russian remarks in the past. He has especially shown a close relationship with President Putin. It is reported that he also attended Putin's fourth inauguration ceremony. In 2014, when Russia illegally invaded and declared the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, Seagal expressed support for Russia.

President Putin granted him Russian citizenship in 2016 and appointed him as a special envoy for U.S.-Russia relations in 2018. In February last year, Seagal received a medal for "contributing to the improvement of Russia's international relations." At that time, he emotionally stated, "I am 1,000,000% Russian." Seagal's son married a Russian model.

Meanwhile, Seagal is an action star who enjoyed the American film industry in the 1990s, starring in hits such as 'Hard to Kill' and 'Under Siege.' It is known that he formed a bond with President Putin by studying martial arts together.

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