Steven Seagal Performs With His Blues Band For Pro-Russia Separatists In Ukraine

Steven Seagal
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Steven Seagal has shown his support for pro-Russia separatists by playing a concert with his band at a show in Crimea.

The actor appeared on a stage that was adorned with the flag of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) on Saturday.

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Steven Seagal on stage in Crimea

The star, who counts Russian president, Vladimir Putin, among his friends, took to the stage at the concert organised by a motorcycle gang of Russian nationalists known as the Night Wolves.

According to Russian media, the 62-year-old wore a t-shirt emblazoned with Putin's face on it during the concert and then held it aloft as he thanked the crowd.

He also reportedly told one attendee at the gig that he considered himself Russian and that his grandparents came from Russia.

The star - best known for his big screen action roles in the likes of 'Under Siege' and 'The Patriot' - has come under fire for his support of Russia's annexation of Crimea and last month was dropped from the bill of a music festival in Estonia because of his position.

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Steven Seagal says he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin 'a friend'

The star has previously said that he considers Putin 'a friend' and that he'd also 'like to consider him a brother'. He also told The Moscow Times he believed him to be 'one of the great living world leaders'.

Last year, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that the Russian president has been friends with the actor for a long time and that they meet regularly.

Steven Seagal Doing Political Things
Steven Seagal(01 of22)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Actor Steven Seagal looks on during the UFC135 mixed martial arts fight, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey ) (credit:AP)