Putin gives Russian passport to US actor Steven Seagal
Moscow leader calls honor for the action movie star and vocal critic of US policy 'a sign of a gradual normalization'
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin has given a Russian passport to US action film star Steven Seagal, calling it a sign of a thaw in relations with the United States.
The 64-year old actor has been a regular visitor to Russia in recent years and has accompanied Putin to several martial arts events.
Seagal also has vocally defended the Russian leader’s policies and criticized the US government.
After awarding Seagal citizenship through a presidential decree earlier this month, Putin hosted the actor at the Kremlin on Friday and handed him the passport.
Putin told Seagal he hopes the ceremony, which was shown on Russian state television, is “also a sign of a gradual normalization of the relations between the countries.”
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.