Steven Seagal Wants Congressional Trip To Chechnya: Hollywood Star Cozies Up With Russians

Martial artist and Hollywood star Steven Seagal might just be Russia's newest emissary for the United States.

Seagal has been trying to improve U.S. relationships with Russia for several years, attempting to bridge gaps in everything from physical fitness programs to foreign political affairs.

Most recently, the Hollywood pin-up attempted to set-up a visit of several members of Congress to Chechnya, home of the two brothers accused of plotting the Boston Bombing attacks, according to Politico.

While Seagal cancelled the excursion because most of the congressional members invited to the trip declined the invitation, his efforts at mending relationships with Russian leaders don't stop there.

Seagal appeared with Russian President Vladimir Putin last March at a martial arts school outside of Moscow as part of a campaign to promote Soviet-style national physical fitness. The duo chatted about creating initiatives in Russia aimed at improving life expectancy rates, according to Politico.

Seagal also met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in Russia last week, who posted photos on Instagram promising his constituents a concert by the end of the year with the martial artist as the headlining star.

After enjoying performances featuring traditional dances and songs, Kadyrov, whom is heavily criticized for his spotty human rights record, took Seagal on a tour of his personal zoo outside of Grozny, the Moscow News reports.

"Steven admitted that he had never seen anything more beautiful," Kadyrov wrote on Instagram after the cultural displays. "We're fans of Steven Seagal's movies over here, and it turns out that he's a fan of our traditional dances."

Several Russian lawmakers are asking Seagal to help lobby for revisions to gun legislation in the United States, according to Politico.