US action film star Steven Seagal makes surprise appearance at Putin inauguration
Hollywood action star Steven Seagal made a surprise appearance at Vladimir Putin's inauguration ceremony.
Seagal, 72, who starred in the Under Siege in the 1990s and several direct-to-video action films, is a friend of the Russian leader who won a fifth term in office.
The actor is a friend of the Russian leader and struck up a friendship over their mutual love of martial arts.
However, his appearance at the inauguration on Tuesday had not been flagged by the Kremlin.
Seagal has described himself "one million per cent Russian" and was last year issued with an official Order of Friendship Medal for his support of Russia in its attack on Ukraine.
He is now officially a Russian citizen and also appeared at Putin's fourth inauguration as Russian president in 2018.
The martial arts teacher turned actor was also made a special envoy for Russia to the US in 2018.
The actor has described Putin, 71, as "one of the great living world leaders".
Seagal pledged his allegiance to Russia at an event organised by the International Movement of Russians in Moscow in March.
They are supporters who do not live in Russia but who are calling for western sanctions on Russia to be lifted. country who want to shine a positive light on Russia in an attempt to have EU sanctions against the country lifted.
Seagal, addressing the members, accused the US of spending “billions of dollars on disinformation, lies”, which he said was an attempt to “try to discredit, demoralise and destroy the emerging morale of Russia”.
Putin is now the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin with 25 years in office.
His latest inauguration will take his new term through till 2030.
He has been been the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin.
