Steven Seagal receives friendship award from Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday bestowed the nation's Order of Friendship on actor Steven Seagal, a longtime sympathizer of his government.

The awarding of the Order of Friendship was announced on the Russian government's internet portal. The order recognizes people who Russia considers to have contributed to bettering international relations.

Seagal was a vocal supporter of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and last year visited the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Olenivka where dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were reportedly killed in an attack for which Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other.