Kremlin Appoints Steven Seagal To Be A Special Envoy To The U.S.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia meeting with Steven Seagal at the Kremlin in 2016. Russian officials said Mr. Seagal was named a special representative to promote humanitarian ties between Russia and the United States.CreditPool photo by Alexei Druzhinin

New York Times: Steven Seagal Appointed by Russia as Special Envoy to the U.S.

The action-movie star Steven Seagal has played a former C.I.A. agent, a hit man and a killer of criminals. On Saturday, Russian officials tapped him for another role: special representative to improve relations between the United States and Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the appointment on Facebook, saying his mission will include promoting “relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.”

The position is unpaid, said Russian officials, who compared the role to that of a United Nations good-will ambassador — a distinguished volunteer who calls attention to the work of the United Nations.

Relations between the two countries have been fraught as United States intelligence agencies have accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 elections and have warned it could do so again in the November contests. The countries have also been at odds over the Syrian civil war and the Russian annexation of Crimea.

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Update: Russia tasks Hollywood actor Seagal with improving U.S. ties (Reuters)

WNU Editor: It is an unpaid position, and purely ceremonial. This is Russian President Putin giving a gift to a friend.