Vladimir Putin: This Hollywood star thinks he is 'one of the greatest world leaders'

The US actor and former Hollywood star Steven Seagal was awarded the 'Order of Friendship' medal by President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Monday, 27 February. Several media reported this meeting, including CBS News and T-Online.

As the Russian government's website informs, the award honours people who have particularly contributed to promoting international relations. According to reports from international media, Seagal earned this very special award because of his 'great contribution to the development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation'.

An ardent Putin supporter

Seagal has been an ardent supporter of Putin for decades, CBS News reports. According to them, he publicly expressed his approval of Russia's annexation of Crimea as early as 2014, during the first Russian invasion on Ukraine's soil. In 2016, he was granted Russian citizenship by Putin.

In 2018, he has been appointed as the humanitarian representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in the United States and Japan. As a Facebook post in the wake of the appointment explains, Seagal's mission is to improve humanitarian relations between the countries, on a cultural and artistic level.

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A passionate war advocate

Steven Seagal, who is also a trained aikido fighter, officially supports Russia's attack on Ukraine. In August 2022, he visited the Donetsk region of Ukraine to pledge his support to the leader of the pro-Russian separatists, Denis Pushilin.

Last October, he also released a video on the occasion of Putin's 70th birthday in which he praises the Russian president as 'one of the greatest leaders in the world'. Seagal, who appeared mainly in action films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, now lives in Russia, where, unlike in the U.S. and other Western countries, he is still celebrated as a star.

One million percent Russia

Soon after receiving the Order of Friendship Award from his bestie Vladimir Putin, the former Hollywood actor has said he feels 'one million percent Russian.' He spoke during the International Movement of Russians in Moscow on March 13. The event was a gathering of non-Russian supporters of Putin's regime who try to shine a positive light on the country to encourage NATO to lift its economical sanctions against Russia.

During his speech, Steven Seagal blamed US media for a 'disinformation campaign against Russia and Russians.' He argued that half of American people 'know they are being lied to' by the media, and actually love Russians and their land.

Although he was born in Michigan, Seagal said he was raised in 'pure Russian tradition' by his father and grew up loving Russian culture. This is what leads him to feel 'one million percent Russian' today.

This article has been translated from Gentside DE.

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Sources used:

CBS News: Putin gives Russian state award to actor Steven Seagal for "humanitarian work

T-Online: Ehrung für US-Schauspieler: Putin zeichnet Steven Seagal mit Freundschaftsorden aus