Russia Names Action Star Steven Seagal as Special U.S. Envoy

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has tapped D-list American action star Steven Seagal to serve as a “special representative” to the U.S. The ministry announced the move Saturday, saying Seagal will be expected to “facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.” The actor will not receive payment for his work. Seagal, a friend and loyal devotee of Vladimir Putin, was granted Russian citizenship in 2016 and has been known to defend the Kremlin’s policies, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014.