Steven Seagal: 'Under Siege' Action Star Receives Dual Citizenship From Russia; President Vladimir Putin Hopes This Strengthen Their Friendship

Action star Steven Seagal, who is known for playing stereotypical Russian thug in loads of direct-to-video movies, has been granted with dual citizenship in Russia by no other than President Vladimir Putin.

His relationship with Russia is fascinating and intriguing. The two formed an odd friendship over the love of Moscow and martial arts. Seagal said that Putin might be the greatest world leader alive today.

This may be a plot to one of Seagal's straight-to-DVD movies but it is not far from reality. His dual citizenship passport solidifies the friendship between these two men that has been going on for decades.

Putin congratulated him and expressed his hope that it can be a small gesture that can be a sign of normalization of the relationship between Russia and US. Seagal accepted the dual citizenship passport with his aikido bow and a Spasibo Bolshoe.

Currently, the action star is in Moscow in his promotional campaign for Moscow mobile provider Megafon, which he also filmed a promotional campaign for. He also did the popular mannequin challenge in the press conference.

Before becoming an action star, Seagal started as an aikido instructor in Japan before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, becoming a Hollywood martial arts trainer. In one of his training, he accidentally broke Sean Connery's wrist during the production of his film "Never Say Never Again".

He became an actor shortly and was usually typecast as a Russian gangster with his deadpan face and his thick accent. His known films include "Under Siege" and "Machete".

His name is immortalized in Hollywood for his breathtaking action scenes. In summer blockbuster hit "The Shallows" starring Blake Lively, her character named a bird "Steven Seagull," in reference to him.