MH17 Crash Forces Estonian Blues Festival To Drop Putin Supporter Steven Seagal From Bill | HuffPost

Putin Supporter Steven Seagal Dropped From Estonian Festival

Caroline Frost— The Huffington Post UK

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Steven Seagal has been dropped from the bill at an Estonian blues festival, with organisers made nervous by his ongoing support for Russian premier Vladimir Putin and his position regarding the Crimean peninsula.

With the deepening international crisis following the downing of Malaysian Airlines' flight MH17 on Thursday, schedulers have decided to replace the martial arts actor turned blues musician, due to public unrest over the situation in this part of the world.

Steven Seagal has been dropped from the bill of the Estonian Augustibluus Festival

Seagal's relationship with the Russian president has flourished since he was drafted in to help launch a national fitness programme, and their shared interest in martial arts has led to a series of celebratory photo-calls.

Further, Seagal has spoken out in political support of Putin. The Guardian quotes him saying to a Russian outlet, "He's one of the greatest world leaders alive today. I consider him my friend."

Seagal has spoken out in support of Putin's controversial policies in the Crimean peninsula

Seagal reportedly added that Russian's annexation of Crimea was "entirely reasonable".

Estonia's foreign minister, Urmas Paet, told Tallinn's newspaper Delfi: "Steven Seagal has become active in politics in the last few months in a manner not befitting a world which honours states based on the rule of law."

Although all eyes are currently on the Ukraine, where rescue workers continue to go through the wreckage of MH17, and international communities await anxiously the return of their victims of the crash, Estonia is understandably on edge, with Putin on the record calling to protect Russian populations in post-Soviet states.

No word yet on who will replace Mr Seagal, although it's probably safe to say it won't be Gerard Depardieu, another infamous Russian supporter.

Steven Seagal Doing Political Things

Steven Seagal(01 of22)

U.S. actor Steven Seagal looks on as he waits for a news conference of U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. A U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, but got to hang out with Steven Seagal. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal(02 of22)

FILE - In this file photo taken on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. movie actor Steven Seagal visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Russia. Russia is lining up Steven Seagal to be the face of its weapons industry as it guns for first place on the world arms market. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday, June 4, 2013, that he was considering asking the action movie star to head up an international marketing campaign to promote the Degtarev arms plant, Russian news agencies reported. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Steven Seagal(03 of22)

U.S. actor Steven Seagal waits for a news conference of U.S. congressional delegation to Russia in the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday June 2, 2013. The head of a U.S. congressional delegation to Russia says it learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, despite the best efforts of actor Steven Seagal. Some meetings were set up by Seagal, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steven Cohen, Steven Seagal, Dana Rohrabacher(04 of22)

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, left, who is leading a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, Rep. Steven Cohen, center, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal, right, speak to the media after a news conference in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. A U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, but got to hang out with Steven Seagal. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican who led the six-person delegation this week, said at a press conference Sunday that there was nothing specific that could have helped Aprils bombings, but that the U.S. and Russia needed to work more closely on joint security threats.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steven Cohen, Steven Seagal, Dana Rohrabacher(05 of22)

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, left, who is leading a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, Rep. Steven Cohen, center, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal, right, speak to the media after a news conference in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. A U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, but got to hang out with Steven Seagal. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican who led the six-person delegation this week, said at a press conference Sunday that there was nothing specific that could have helped Aprils bombings, but that the U.S. and Russia needed to work more closely on joint security threats.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steven Seagal(06 of22)

U.S. actor Steven Seagal gestures while speaking to the media after a news conference of U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. A U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, but got to hang out with Steven Seagal. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steve King, Rep. Steven Seagal, Dana Rohrabacher(07 of22)

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, foreground, who is leading a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, U.S. actor Steven Seagal, right, and Rep. Steve King, left, speak to the media after a news conference in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. A U.S. Congressional delegation to Russia learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, but got to hang out with Steven Seagal. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican who led the six-person delegation this week, said at a press conference Sunday that there was nothing specific that could have helped Aprils bombings, but that the U.S. and Russia needed to work more closely on joint security threats.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steven Cohen(08 of22)

Rep. Steven Cohen, member of a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, listens during a news conference in U.S. the embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. The head of a U.S. congressional delegation to Russia says it learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, despite the best efforts of actor Steven Seagal. Some meetings were set up by Seagal, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steve King(09 of22)

Rep. Steve King, a member of a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, speaks during a news conference in U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. The head of a U.S. congressional delegation to Russia says it learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, despite the best efforts of actor Steven Seagal. Some meetings were set up by Seagal, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Steven Cohen, Dana Rohrabacher(10 of22)

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, left, who is leading a U.S. Congressional delegation to the Russian Federation, listens as Rep. Steven Cohen speaks during a news conference in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 2, 2013. The head of a U.S. congressional delegation to Russia says it learned little about what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, despite the best efforts of actor Steven Seagal. Some meetings were set up by Seagal, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (11 of22)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and U.S. movie actor Steven Seagal, right rear, visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. President Vladimir Putin has called for the revival of the Soviet-era physical evaluation program that required all schoolchildren to pass fitness tests. In center is Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (12 of22)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left, and U.S. movie actor Steven Seagal, left, visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. President Vladimir Putin has called for the revival of the Soviet-era physical evaluation program that required all schoolchildren to pass fitness tests. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (13 of22)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and U.S. movie actor Steven Seagal, front, visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. President Vladimir Putin has called for the revival of the Soviet-era physical evaluation program that required all schoolchildren to pass fitness tests. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (14 of22)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and U.S. movie actor Steven Seagal, left, speak to an athlete as they visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. President Vladimir Putin has called for the revival of the Soviet-era physical evaluation program that required all schoolchildren to pass fitness tests. At right is President's aide Yuri Trutnev. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

RUSSIA-SOCIAL-HEALTH-PUTIN-PEOPLE-SPORTS(15 of22)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and American action movie actor Steven Seagal visit a newly-built sports complex of Sambo-70 prominent wrestling school in Moscow. Putin teamed up today with Steven Seagal to promote the Soviet-style regime of rigorous physical training for schoolchildren. Sambo is the official in-house martial art of the KGB security services which Putin practiced before switching to judo. AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ POOL / ALEXEI NIKOLSKY (Photo credit should read ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

RUSSIA-SOCIAL-HEALTH-PUTIN-PEOPLE-SPORTS(16 of22)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and American action movie actor Steven Seagal (L) visit a newly-built sports complex of Sambo-70 prominent wrestling school in Moscow. Putin teamed up today with Steven Seagal to promote the Soviet-style regime of rigorous physical training for schoolchildren. Sambo is the official in-house martial art of the KGB security services which Putin practiced before switching to judo. AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ POOL / ALEXEI NIKOLSKY (Photo credit should read ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

RUSSIA-SOCIAL-HEALTH-PUTIN-PEOPLE-SPORTS(17 of22)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and American action movie actor Steven Seagal (L) meet children as they visit a newly-built sports complex of Sambo-70 prominent wrestling school in Moscow. Putin teamed up today with Steven Seagal to promote the Soviet-style regime of rigorous physical training for schoolchildren. Sambo is the official in-house martial art of the KGB security services which Putin practiced before switching to judo. AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ POOL / ALEXEI NIKOLSKY (Photo credit should read ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (18 of22)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal watch the first Russian national championship of mixed martial arts in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (19 of22)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal, left, watch the first Russian national championship of mixed martial arts in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal (20 of22)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal, second left back to camera, watch the first Russian national championship of mixed martial arts in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) (credit:AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R)(21 of22)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and his guest US actor Steven Seagal (3rd R) attend the Mixed fight Championship in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / RIA-NOVOSTI / ALEKSEY NIKOLSKYI (Photo credit should read ALEKSEY NIKOLSKYI/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)

Steven Seagal(22 of22)

Actor Steven Seagal looks on during the UFC135 mixed martial arts fight, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey ) (credit:AP)

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