Hollywood Actor Steven Seagal was granted Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin on November 3, 2016.

The presidential decree was signed along with other items of national importance such as government reshuffles and international treaties. This action is the result of repeated request made by Seagal after visiting the country several times.

Segal has been noted as very open in expressing warm feeling towards Russia, as Dmitry Pescov has said. The fact that he is a well-known actor is a major reason for being granted such request, as reported by BBC.

Putin and Seagal are friends. The actor was seen on several occasions with the Russian leader. For instance, on August 11, 2012 they were taken photograph watching the first Russian National Championship of mixed martial arts in the Black Sea resort in Sochi, southern Russia. They were also photographed together three years ago at a school near Moscow to launch a campaign to publicize physical fitness. Putin is also trained in martial arts and maintains physical fitness by constantly playing Judo.

All these things contributed to the actor's admission as a Russian citizen, aside from openly expressing his admiration to the President. During Russia's annexation of Crimea, Seagal made headlines as he said that Russia's move is "very reasonable", although such action has understandaly reaped criticism from countries all over the world. He even described Vladimir Putin as one of the living great leaders in the world.

On 2013 it was reported that Putin made a proposal to make Seagal an honorary consul of Russia to California and Arizona. This will make Seagal an intermediary between Whitehouse and Kremlin, but this was rejected by the United States.

According to The Guardian, Segal was not only the westerner to have sought and granted Russian citizenship. French actor and filmmaker Gerard Depardieu and boxing star Roy Jones were ahead of him.

The action star's admission as a Russian citizen will extend to his career as a movie actor and producer.

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