started · updated
France expels Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova, freezes her assets
On 29 July 2026 the French Ministry of the Interior issued a ministerial expulsion order against Xenia Fedorova, a former director of RT France who now appears regularly on CNews, Europe 1 and Le Journal du Dimanche. The decree states that her behaviour “threatens the fundamental interests of the French state” and constitutes “a particularly grave and current threat to public order.” In addition to the expulsion, the government ordered a six‑month freeze of all her assets, describing the measure as complementary to the deportation to prevent further “acts of interference.”
Fedorova has been placed under house arrest, required to report daily to police, and has announced that she will appeal both the expulsion and the asset‑freeze. Interior minister Laurent Nuñez defended the decision as a security measure, not an infringement on freedom of expression, while media groups Canal+ and Lagardère condemned it as a severe attack on press freedom. The action comes less than a year before the 2027 French presidential election, raising questions about the balance between national security and media liberty.
Entities
CANAL+ · CNews · Emmanuel Macron · Emmanuel Piwnica · French Ministry of the Interior · French interior ministry · Lagardère · Laurent Nunez · Libération · RT France · Vincent Bolloré · Xenia Fedorova
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] The expulsion order states her behaviour threatens the fundamental interests of the State and endangers public order. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr · www.telerama.fr · +6 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Fedorova works as a regular commentator on CNews and other Vincent Bolloré media outlets. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr
- [● 14 SOURCES] Xenia Fedorova is banned from entering Germany. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr · www.danas.rs · +6 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The European Commission suspended Kremlin‑funded media outlets in the EU after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. www.parismatch.com · www.publicsenat.fr
- [● 13 SOURCES] Xenia Fedorova is the former head of RT France. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr · www.danas.rs · +6 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] RT France’s accounts were frozen and the channel closed in January 2023 following EU sanctions. lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr · arroyodiario.com.ar · www.telerama.fr · www.danas.rs · +6 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Fedorova plans to file an immediate appeal against the expulsion order. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr · www.danas.rs · +5 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The French Ministry of the Interior issued a ministerial order to expel Xenia Fedorova. arroyodiario.com.ar · www.parismatch.com · lanouvelletribune.info · www.publicsenat.fr
- [● 5 SOURCES] Disinformation experts warned about Fedorova’s influence ahead of France’s presidential election next year. www.danas.rs · it.euronews.com · www.politika.rs · www.france24.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Xenia Fedorova was former head of the Russian state‑funded channel RT France. www.danas.rs · it.euronews.com · www.politika.rs · www.france24.com · arroyodiario.com.ar · +2 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Fedorova’s lawyer Emmanuel Piwnica said she will immediately lodge an appeal against the deportation order. www.danas.rs · it.euronews.com · www.politika.rs · www.france24.com · arroyodiario.com.ar · +6 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] The expulsion order accuses her of acting as a conduit for Kremlin‑directed disinformation campaigns intended to destabilise public order in France. www.danas.rs · it.euronews.com · www.politika.rs · www.france24.com · arroyodiario.com.ar · +8 more