US tough guy Steven Seagal gets Serbian citizenship

Serbia has granted citizenship to American action hero Steven Seagal, state television reported Monday, after he offered to set up a martial arts school in Belgrade.

The 63-year-old actor visited the capital twice in December and was received by President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

At the time, the star of "Under Siege" and "Above the Law" said he would do "everything possible to promote Serbia" worldwide and expressed a wish to establish an Aikido school in the capital city, according to a government statement.

On New Year's Eve, the passionate guitarist also took the stage for an open-air concert in Belgrade.

A friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Seagal has in the past promoted sports for Russian schoolchildren and said he would not rule out eventually seeking Russian citizenship.