The French Ministry of the Interior has ordered Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova to leave the country, accusing her of acting as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities to destabilize public order in France. The expulsion order, signed on Tuesday, states that Fedorova's conduct undermines the fundamental interests of the State and that her presence constitutes a particularly serious and current threat to public order.
Fedorova is a former head of RT France, the French branch of the Russian state-backed broadcaster shut down in 2023.
Fedorova is also accused of contributing to the dissemination of disinformation aimed at manipulating public opinion and undermining the confidence of European and French citizens in their institutions. Disinformation experts have raised alarms about her influence.
Fedorova, a former editor-in-chief of RT France, now works as a commentator for media outlets owned by French conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche. French newspaper Le Monde has described her as a 'protégé' of Bolloré. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called her a 'certified propagandist who serves as a conduit for Kremlin disinformation.'
Following the expulsion order, Fedorova has been placed under house arrest and is required to report daily to a police station. Her lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, stated that she would immediately file an appeal against the order. Her employers expressed astonishment, calling the expulsion 'a particularly serious infringement of freedom of expression.'
The European Union banned RT and Sputnik in 2022 following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The lack of diplomatic ties between France and Russia may complicate the actual deportation of Fedorova, according to reports.