Key facts
- France has ordered Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave the country.
- The French Interior Ministry cited Fedorova's alleged promotion of Kremlin propaganda and a threat to public order.
- Fedorova previously directed the French version of RT, a Russian state-run channel banned in the EU.
- Authorities stated her conduct undermines fundamental state interests and poses an immediate threat to public order.
- Fedorova has been placed under house arrest and must report to police daily.
France has ordered Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave the country, citing her alleged dissemination of Kremlin propaganda and a threat to public order. The French Interior Ministry stated that Fedorova's conduct "undermines the fundamental interests of the state" and that her continued presence constitutes a "particularly serious and immediate threat to public order."
Fedorova, who previously directed the French version of Russia's state-run RT channel before it was banned in France following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, remains a commentator for French media outlets owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré. She has been accused of promoting pro-Kremlin narratives, including claims that Europe is exaggerating the threat from Russia and that the West seeks to prolong the war in Ukraine. The renewal of her residence permit in 2024 had previously ignited significant controversy.
According to the French newspaper Libération, the expulsion order alleges Fedorova has acted as a conduit for Russian-orchestrated disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing public opinion. Fedorova has been placed under house arrest and must report to a police station daily. Her lawyer stated that the deportation order is a "serious infringement of the freedom of speech of a journalist" and that they will appeal.