Putin grants Russian citizenship to Steven Seagal

June 2, 2013. Steven Seagal speaks to the media at a news conference in Moscow. (Reuters)

Vladimir Putin has granted actor Steven Seagal Russian citizenship, the Kremlin reported on its website on Thursday, according to Reuters.

A Kremlin spokesperson said the 64-year-old actor has “warm feelings” toward Russia and had long been asking for citizenship.

That’s not why he got it, though. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters Seagal was given citizenship because he’s famous.

"At the same time, he is a rather well-known actor, which became the reason for granting him Russian Federation citizenship," Peskov said.

Seagal isn’t the first famous face to be granted citizenship by Putin. French actor Gerard Depardieu was granted Russian citizenship as was boxer Roy Jones Jr.