Russian TV personality Xenia Fedorova accused France of censorship after Paris ordered her expulsion and froze her assets. Fedorova, formerly of RT France, claims she is being targeted for expressing opinions that deviate from the official narrative.
The expulsion of a prominent pro-Kremlin media figure highlights ongoing tensions between France and Russia, and underscores concerns about disinformation campaigns influencing European public discourse.
Russian TV personality Xenia Fedorova has accused French President Emmanuel Macron and his government of censorship following an order for her expulsion from France and a move to freeze her assets. Fedorova, who previously led the Kremlin-backed RT France news outlet before its closure in 2023 due to EU sanctions, stated that the French government is employing "political pressure" and "censorship of opinions that do not align with the official narrative."
In her first public comments on the matter, the 46-year-old wrote on social media that the government decided her public comments represented an "immediate danger to the Republic." She argued that her actions consisted of legally residing in France for nearly a decade, paying taxes, and expressing her opinion as part of her journalistic work.
The expulsion order, obtained by the daily newspaper Libération, accuses Fedorova of "destabilizing public order" and acting as a "conduit for disinformation campaigns led by the Russian authorities." Since the shutdown of RT France, Fedorova has frequently appeared on French media outlets, particularly those owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, spreading pro-Kremlin talking points on topics such as Ukraine, NATO, and European security.
A government decree seen by POLITICO indicates that France froze Fedorova's assets for a six-month period on Thursday. Fedorova stated her intention to appeal this decision. She is currently under house arrest and prohibited from working in France. However, the report notes that strained diplomatic relations between Paris and Moscow might complicate her deportation.