Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova has been ordered to leave France, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. He has been accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda on French television and radio.
According to French newspaper Freedom, The expulsion order accuses Fedorova of “acting as a medium”. Disinformation campaign launched by Russian authoritiesWith the aim of “destabilizing public order” in France.
According to news agency AFP, Fedorova has been under house arrest since the order was issued.
Fedorova is the former head of Russia Today (RT) in France, which was ultimately banned in the country following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
She remained in the country and became a commentator for a broadcast outlet owned by the media group of French billionaire Vincent Bolloré.
According to the French daily le monde, Fedorova is considered Bolloré’s “educator”.
Fedorova made frequent appearances on the CNews television channel and Europe 1 radio.
She also writes for Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, where he has been accused of spreading Kremlin gossip about Ukraine and the West.
‘Serious violation’ on freedom of expression
Fedorova’s employers reacted to her removal, saying they were surprised, calling the move a “particularly serious violation of freedom of expression”.
The media group said it would “provide our full support to Ms Fedorova during this decision.”
The commentator’s lawyer Emmanuel Piwnica told AFP his client would “immediately” file an appeal against the order.
“Xenia Fedorova is a journalist,” Pivnica told AFP, adding that she “has always done her job as appropriately as possible.”
Macron says Fedorova ‘is not a journalist’
Tension between Fedorova and the French state lasted until 2017, when President Emmanuel Macron criticized her and said she was not a journalist.
“When media outlets spread outrageous lies, they cease to be journalists. They are instruments of influence,” Macron said.
In June, Macron was again asked to speak on the subject and said that his opinion had not changed.
Disinformation experts have already raised concerns about the influence of figures like Fedorova in France ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Although there is no evidence of any ties between Fedorova and the Kremlin, media advocates have said she should still be treated as an agent of influence.
edited by: shawn sinico
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