Russia condemns France's expulsion of journalist Xenia Fedorova
France's interior ministry issued an expulsion order against Xenia Fedorova, the former director of RT France, accusing her of acting as a conduit for Russian disinformation and posing a serious threat to public order. A Paris administrative court rejected her appeal, leaving her abroad.
The Russian foreign ministry, through spokesperson Alexei Fadeev, denounced the decree as "political persecution of journalists" based on false accusations. He called the action "incompatible with France's stated commitment to freedom of expression" and criticised French officials for repeatedly attributing domestic problems to a "Russian connection". The dispute unfolds ahead of France's presidential election and against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine war.
Entities: Alexei Fadeev · CANAL+ · France · French Ministry of Interior · Lagardère · Russia · Russian Foreign Ministry · Xenia Fedorova
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Xenia Fedorova is a former director of RT France. (media reports)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Xenia Fedorova is currently abroad and will not return to France until the measures are lifted. (Xenia Fedorova statements)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The expulsion order cited that her behavior threatens public order and is a serious threat. (French prefecture of police of Paris)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Canal+ and Lagardère said the expulsion is a severe attack on freedom of expression. (Canal+ and Lagardère representatives)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Russia's diplomatic spokesperson Alexei Fadeev called the expulsion a political persecution. (Alexei Fadeev, Russian diplomatic spokesperson)
- [● 2 SOURCES] French authorities froze Xenia Fedorova's assets. (French government)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The French administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's appeal against the expulsion. (French administrative court)
- [● 3 SOURCES] French authorities issued an expulsion order against Xenia Fedorova. (French government)