Steven Seagal says he is Putin’s man, expresses Russian political ambitions

Seagal has arrived in Primorsky Krai to take part in the Pacific Meridian movie festival, which is currently taking place in the region’s capital Vladivostok. When reporters asked the celebrity if he wanted to become the governor, he answered that he represented President Vladimir Putin’s interests and would take over the gubernatorial seat with pleasure.

He proceeded to say that his ancestors on his father’s side came from the Russian Far East, and that he wanted to know more about Primorsky Krai Region and become its governor.

Seagal also told reporters that he had been appointed the Foreign Ministry’s special envoy for relations with Japan, and that he planned to apply maximum effort to strengthening diplomatic relations between Moscow and Tokyo.

Steven Seagal was granted Russian citizenship in November 2016 under a law that allows foreigners to be naturalized in recognition of their services to Russia or just their achievements in general. The actor’s appointment as an envoy for Russo-Japanese relations occurred in early August. Seagal has also worked as the Russian Foreign Ministry’s representative for Russian-US relations since April.

The movie star was apparently asked about his political aspirations because the situation in Primorsky Krai became complicated after the September 9 gubernatorial elections. The first round of the polls ended in a run-off between the incumbent governor, a representative of the parliamentary majority party United Russia, and a federal MP representing populist opposition party, the LDPR.

The run-off elections took place on September 23 and ended in a near-draw, but the results have been annulled by the local Elections Commission over numerous complaints of violations that came from candidates.

The date for the new vote in Primorsky Krai has not yet been set, but it must take place before December 16, according to electoral laws.

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