Steven Seagal attends Victory Day parade amid deepening ties with Russia and unresolved US legal issues
American actor Steven Seagal spotted in Moscow attending Victory Day military parade, hosted by Putin. pic.twitter.com/t2sWF6W7uN — Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 11, 2025
Seagal, a longtime ally of Putin, received Russian citizenship in 2016 and reportedly moved to Moscow in 2021 according to The Independent. His relocation followed legal troubles in the United States, where the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused him of failing to disclose payments for promoting a cryptocurrency. In 2021, a U.S. judge authorised the SEC to collect $200,000 in penalties from Seagal after he only partially settled the fine. According to reports, neither Seagal nor his representatives appeared in court in response to repeated SEC demands.
Over the years, Seagal has been appointed to symbolic roles by the Russian government, including Special Envoy for U.S.-Russia humanitarian relations. In 2023, Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship for his contributions to cultural diplomacy. Seagal, who has Russian ancestry, has publicly embraced his identity, stating, 'I am one million percent Russian.'
The Under Siege star also attended Putin's fifth inauguration in 2024 and released a documentary titled In the Name of Justice, where he voiced support for Russia and said he was ready to 'fight and die' for President Putin.
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