France orders Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave country

France has ordered Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave the country, citing her alleged dissemination of Kremlin propaganda through French television and radio. The French Interior Ministry stated that Fedorova's activities "undermine the fundamental interests of the state" and that her presence in France "constitutes a particularly serious and current threat to public order."

Fedorova, who previously worked for Russia's state-run broadcaster RT and was the former head of RT France before its ban following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, is now a commentator for media outlets owned by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré. She is a regular commentator on CNews and Europe 1 and writes for Le Journal du Dimanche, where critics claim she echoes Kremlin narratives.

According to French newspaper Libération, the expulsion order accuses Fedorova of acting as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities, aimed at destabilizing public order and manipulating public opinion in France. Disinformation experts have also voiced concerns about her influence, particularly ahead of next year's French presidential election.

Fedorova has been placed under house arrest after being notified of the expulsion order and is required to report daily to a police station. Her employer expressed shock at the decision, calling it a "particularly serious infringement of freedom of expression."