[REVISION HISTORY]

France expels Russian journalist, debates remote media roles

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-06 21:09 UTC → 2026-09-10 17:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the expulsion of Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova on 29 July 2026, the Paris Administrative Tribunal rejected an emergency appeal to suspend the order on 14 August. While the court did not rule on the underlying legality of the expulsion, it maintained the measures, including a six-month asset freeze, because the legal requirement to demonstrate “extreme urgency” was not met. Fedorova’s lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, continues to contest the actions as “illegal and disproportionate.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has intensified his rhetoric, characterizing Fedorova as a “professional in subversion” and an “agent of interference” trained in Russia. He linked her activities to broader Kremlin-directed sabotage and disinformation campaigns intended to destabilize public order, particularly ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Russia’s foreign ministry has consistently denounced the move as “political persecution.” On 4 September, tensions escalated when Foreign Minister Barrot expressed “deep concern and dismay” over the Bolloré media group’s decision to allow Fedorova to return to the airwaves via remote video link on CNews. Barrot described himself as “heartbroken” and “afflicted” by the decision, questioning why media outlets provide platforms to individuals legally expelled for attempting to destabilize public order. ~~Although Fedorova was previously expelled from France and Germany,~~ On 10 September, the dispute intensified as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez issued a warning to CNews ~~presenter Gauthier Le Bret confirmed she is permitted~~ regarding Fedorova’s potential return to ~~intervene remotely,~~ the program ‘L’Heure Inter’. In a ~~move~~ formal letter to the ~~French government fears~~ audiovisual regulator Arcom, Nuñez signaled that allowing her to broadcast via video link could ~~manipulate public debate.~~ constitute a “circumvention of existing legal measures” and warned of potential criminal prosecution. Fedorova has expressed her desire to continue her role despite her current legal status and technical challenges.

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