American actor Steven Seagal has been appointed as a special envoy by the Russian government to deal with humanitarian links with the USA.
“Stephen Seagal has been appointed special representative of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia on Russian-American Humanitarian Ties,” the Russian foreign ministry announced.
“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."
The move has raised eyebrows seeing as the 66-year-old actor is amongst those Hollywood figures accused of sexual misconduct as a result of #MeToo.
But Putin is obviously big fan of the B movie action star. Seagal once bizarrely hailed Putin, a man accused of a litany of war crimes, as “one of the great living world leaders”.
Taking to Twitter last night, Seagal spoke of his pride in taking on this new role. "I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been appointed as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in charge of Russian and American Humanitarian ties," he wrote. "I hope we can strive for peace, harmony and positive results in the world. I take this honour very seriously."
The Russian government insists that Seagal, who has not had a hit movie in donkeys years, is not being paid for his new role.

I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been appointed as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in charge of Russian and American Humanitarian ties.
I hope we can strive for peace, harmony and positive results in the world.
I take this honour very seriously pic.twitter.com/LTuUxsk1aZ

— Steven Seagal (@sseagalofficial) 5 de agosto de 2018