Russians Continue to Use and Abuse Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal, once an improbable Hollywood action hero, has found a second, if increasingly strained, act as a peculiar prop in Russia’s geopolitical theater. His recent decision to step down as CEO of Five Elements LLC on July 17, 2025, while seemingly a business move, is another telling chapter in how Russia has leveraged, and arguably exploited, the aging actor for its own ends, even as the global landscape makes his continued presence a liability.
Seagal’s defection, if it can be called that, to Russia has been a gradual process, culminating in his Russian citizenship in 2016 and his later appointment as Russia’s special envoy for U.S.-Russia cultural ties. He has consistently served as a bizarrely fervent cheerleader for Vladimir Putin, endorsing the annexation of Crimea and repeating Kremlin propaganda talking points on the conflict in Ukraine. He was even present at Putin’s fifth inauguration in May 2024, a testament to his symbolic value to the regime.
The Kremlin’s investment in Seagal has always been less about his business acumen – details of Five Elements LLC’s financial performance remain shrouded in mystery – and more about the optics. Here was a recognizable Western face, a supposed martial arts guru, validating Russia’s increasingly isolated and authoritarian stance on the global stage. He lent a veneer of international support, however thin, to a narrative that few others in the West were willing to entertain. Footage of him visiting occupied Ukrainian territories and repeating fabricated stories about Ukrainian prisoners of war are stark examples of his direct utility in Russian disinformation campaigns.
Yet, as the screws of international sanctions tighten and the reputational risks for foreigners doing business in Russia escalate, Seagal’s presence has become increasingly problematic, even for his Russian handlers. American Executive Order 14071 carries severe penalties for new investments in Russia, making it perilous for U.S. citizens to maintain active business interests. Foreign banks and consultants, fearful of secondary sanctions, are increasingly cutting ties with anyone linked to Russia, effectively paralyzing operations. It’s a “compliance risk,” as legal experts describe it, that can be far more damaging than direct fines.
Seagal’s departure from Five Elements LLC, despite his prior divestment of direct ownership, reflects this growing pressure. While he sold his shares in Five Elements in April 2024, his continued tenure as CEO for over a year suggests that a clean break from the company, and indeed from his broader Russian interests, may not have been a straightforward or immediate process. It is plausible that, like many high-profile individuals seeking to disentangle themselves from Russian ventures amidst mounting international pressure, Seagal faced a protracted and complex path to severing these ties, navigating the intricacies of Russian bureaucracy and the strategic interests of those who benefited from his association.
While he still holds a 26% stake in Gorki Holding Company LLC, a venture aimed at building an International Center for Oriental Martial Arts on prestigious Rublevo-Uspenskoe Highway, even this project faces an uncertain future. His previous exits from other Russian entities, such as Russian Fairs LLC, underscore a pattern of disengagement, likely driven by the practical difficulties and legal ramifications of doing business in a sanctioned state.
Ultimately, Steven Seagal has been a willing, if somewhat clumsy, tool in Russia’s propaganda machine. He provided a public face, however faded, for their narratives. But as the cost of this association rises, even Russia appears to be adjusting its strategy. The recent restructuring of his business ties signals a move to shield him, and by extension, Russia, from further direct exposure to Western financial penalties.
While his symbolic value may persist, the era of “Steven Seagal, Russian businessman” seems to be drawing to a close, a casualty of the very geopolitical conflict he so eagerly championed.
