As we reported in October of 2017, Seagal was granted Russian citizenship on 3 November 2016, according to Russia President spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “He is a rather well-known actor, which became the reason for granting him Russian Federation citizenship … He was asking quite insistently and over a lengthy period to be granted citizenship.” Steven is a frequent guest in Russia, to which he has ancestral ties.
While visiting Moscow, he told that his grandfather was a Russian Mongol, while his father is said to be a Russian Jewish emigrant. His grandmother was originally from Vladivostok before she moved to America where his parents were raised. Answering the question what he was doing in Russia, being a US patriot, Seagal replied that he is against the conflict between the two countries.
Today we got fresh news from the Russian State Department – Stephen Seagal has been appointed Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (Russian State Department) on Russian-American Humanitarian Ties.
The task is to promote the further development of Russian-American relations in the humanitarian sphere, including interaction in the field of culture, art, public and youth exchanges and more.
It’s about a public-political position without a monetary reward. The very case when folk diplomacy meets diplomacy traditional. In International Practice, there are parallels between the functions of the UN Goodwill Ambassadors and the Seagal’s new role.
Join the conversation!
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.