World
October 11, 2024 16:30
russia - Actor Steven Seagal, 72, declares his willingness to give his life for Vladimir Putin in a new documentary called In the name of justice, shared by the Russian state media platform Smotrim.
Actor Steven Seagal, 72, declared his willingness to give his life for Vladimir Putin in a new documentary called In the name of justice, shared by the Russian state media platform Smotrim. In the documentary, Seagal, labeled as a 'useful idiot' of Putin by critics, visits various occupied areas in Ukraine, including the heavily fought-over port city of Mariupol. The actor is shown speaking with civilians and sharing Kremlin propaganda with the help of a translator and voice-over due to his lack of proficiency in the Russian language.
Seagal also visits Ukrainian prisoners of war, alleged to be members of the notorious Azov Battalion, known for its racism and xenophobia. Whether they are actual Azov members remains unclear.
It is documented that Seagal writes a letter to President Putin, asserting that they will now see who their true compatriots and friends are. 'I will stand by my President and fight for him,' he states, hinting at possibly joining the war in Ukraine on the Russian side. However, considering his age, Seagal's appearance at the frontlines seems unlikely.
Seagal and Putin have been close friends for many years. The friendship was solidified in 2016 when Putin granted Seagal a Russian passport at a formal ceremony. Two years later, Russia appointed the actor as a special envoy to improve relations with the United States, a task impossible without good standing with the Russian leader.
Notably, Seagal was the only Westerner to attend Vladimir Putin's fifth presidential inauguration earlier this year, dressed conspicuously in a black robe with a rosary around his neck.
The actor and the Russian President initially met through film producer Bob Van Ronkel and share a common interest in martial arts, with Seagal holding a black belt in aikido and Putin being passionate about judo. In 2014, amidst the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Seagal expressed his admiration for Putin, saying, 'I consider him as my friend, and I wish he were my brother.'