A Paris administrative court has rejected an appeal by Russian television commentator Xenia Fedorova against an order to leave France.
The court stated that Fedorova failed to demonstrate that the expulsion order would result in 'serious personal consequences'.
French authorities accused Fedorova of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Expulsion and asset freeze
France has ordered Fedorova to leave the country and has frozen her assets for a period of six months.
Fedorova stated that the expulsion was ordered under an 'emergency procedure'.
A source close to the case stated that Fedorova has been placed under house arrest.
Government and employer responses
Systematically repeat Kremlin propaganda
— French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to broadcaster RTL
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told RTL that the order to leave was 'thoroughly justified'. He further accused Fedorova of relaying Russian propaganda to undermine 'the fundamental interests of the nation'.
Fedorova's employers described the expulsion order as 'a particularly serious infringement of freedom of expression'.
Media background
Fedorova is reported to be a former journalist for Russia's state-run channel RT. She is reported to be a commentator for media outlets within Vincent Bolloré's media stable, including the CNews television channel, which is seen as modelled on America's Fox News. She has also reportedly written for the Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
The influence of widely followed media outlets is considered key for the 2027 French presidential elections, which Marine Le Pen's far-right movement views as its best chance of winning the Elysee.
Updates
The ruling by the Paris administrative court specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend certain measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. In addition to the expulsion, the challenged measures include a requirement for her to remain in Paris with daily police reporting and a six-month asset freeze. Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday.
Fedorova, the expulsion order along with a requirement to remain in Paris, daily police reporting, and a six-month asset freeze under which she has been under house arrest since Wednesday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot characterized her as a proven propagandist, while Fedorova has accused the government of political pressure and censorship. The Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed her request to suspend these measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself.
The ruling by the Paris administrative court specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend existing measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday while challenging the expulsion, a requirement to remain in Paris with daily police reporting, and a six-month asset freeze. She has accused the Macron government of censorship and political pressure, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot identified her as a relay for Kremlin disinformation.
Beyond the expulsion order, Xenia Fedorova's legal challenge also contested a requirement for her to remain in Paris with daily police reporting and a six-month asset freeze. The former head of Kremlin-backed RT France, who has lived in France for nearly a decade, has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday. Additionally, the Paris administrative court's ruling was limited to her request to suspend these measures rather than addressing the merits of the expulsion itself.
The Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend several measures, including her expulsing order, a six-month asset freeze, and the requirement to remain in Paris while reporting to police daily. Additionally, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has characterized Fedorova as a proven propagandist serving as a relay for Kremlin disinformation, while Fedorova herself has accused the government of political pressure and censorship.
Since the ruling, it has emerged that Xenia Fedorova, a former head of RT France, has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday. Fedorova's legal challenge also targeted a requirement to report to police daily and a six-month asset freeze, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot officially characterized her as a proven relay for Kremlin disinformation. Additionally, the Paris administrative court's decision focused specifically on the request to suspend these measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself.
The Paris administrative court's ruling on Monday specifically addressed Fedorova's request to suspend the existing measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. Additionally, the commentator has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday as she challenges the expulsion alongside requirements to report to police daily and a six-month asset freeze.
The Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend the measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. Additionally, Fedorova has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday while facing other government requirements, including a six-month asset freeze and a mandate to report to police daily.
In addition to the expulsion order, Xenia Fedorova is also subject to a requirement to remain in Paris, report to police daily, and a six-month asset freeze. Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday and has challenged these measures, accusing the Macron government of using political pressure and censorship.
The Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend government measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. Fedorova, who has resided in France for nearly a decade and previously led Kremlin-backed RT France, is currently under house arrest in Paris. She is facing three distinct measures: the expulsion order, a requirement to remain in Paris with daily police reporting, and a six-month asset freeze.
Beyond the appeal outcome, Fedorova has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday and is facing additional measures including a requirement to report to police daily and a six-month asset freeze. Furthermore, the Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed her request to suspend these measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself.
The Paris administrative court's rejection on Monday was specifically limited to Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend the measures rather than a ruling on the merits of the expulsion order itself. The court determined that she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for the 'référé-liberté' procedure. Additionally, the expulsion order, which has been in effect since July 29, includes requirements for her to remain in Paris, report to police daily, and face a six-month asset freeze.
The Paris administrative court's ruling specifically addressed Xenia Fedorova's request to suspend government measures, such as her expulsion, daily police reporting requirements, and a six-month asset freeze, rather than the merits of the expulsion itself. The court rejected her 'référé-liberté' appeal on Monday, August 3, concluding that she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for such a procedure. Additionally, despite previous calls for European sanctions, Fedorova was not included in the 21st EU sanctions package adopted on July 23.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal because she failed to demonstrate the necessary 'extreme urgency' for the procedure. Additionally, the court clarified that the Monday ruling only addressed her request to suspend measures—which include a six-month asset freeze and a daily requirement to report to the police—rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself.
The Paris administrative court rejected the appeal because it determined that Fedorova failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for a 'référé-liberté' procedure. Furthermore, the ruling specifically addressed her request to suspend the measures rather than the merits of the expulsion order itself. New details reveal that the measures against her include a requirement to report to a police station daily and a six-month asset freeze.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal on Monday, August 3, ruling that she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for such a procedure. The court noted that she had not requested authorization from the police prefect or expressed a need to leave the Parisian territory. Additionally, the French authorities have imposed an asset freeze on Fedorova and prohibited her from working under the current measures.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal because she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for such a procedure. In addition to the expulsion order, the measures against Fedorova include an asset freeze, a prohibition from working, and a requirement to report to the police station daily while remaining in Paris. Her lawyer, Me Emmanuel Piwnica, stated that she does not intend to return to France until the order is suspended or annulled.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal because she failed to demonstrate the required 'extreme urgency' for the procedure. In addition to the expulsion order, the measures against the commentator include an asset freeze, a requirement to report to the police daily, and a prohibition from working.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal on Monday, August 3, ruling that she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for this specific legal procedure. In addition to the expulsion order, the measures against the 45-year-old Russian national include a six-month asset freeze, a prohibition on working, and a requirement to report to the police daily while remaining in Paris. Her lawyer, Me Emmanuel Piwnica, stated that Fedorova was abroad on vacation when informed of the measures and does not intend to return to France until the order is suspended or annulled.
The Paris administrative court dismissed Xenia Fedorova's appeal because she failed to demonstrate the 'extreme urgency' required for a 'référé-liberté' procedure and did not establish the 'grave personal incidences' resulting from the contested decisions. In addition to the expulsion order, the measures against the former RT France head include a requirement to remain in Paris, a daily report to the police, a six-month asset freeze, and a prohibition from working.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal because she failed to demonstrate the required 'extreme urgency' and did not specify any 'grave personal incidences' resulting from the contested decisions. Additionally, the court noted that the appellant had not requested any authorization from the police prefecture nor expressed a need to leave the Parisian territory. Alongside the expulsion order, authorities have imposed a six-month asset freeze on Fedorova and she is currently required to report to a police station daily while under house arrest in Paris.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal on Monday, August 3, ruling that she failed to demonstrate the required 'extreme urgency' or the 'grave personal incidences' necessary to suspend the measures. Additionally, new details reveal that Fedorova has been under house arrest in Paris since Wednesday, which includes a requirement to report to a police station daily and a simultaneous freeze on all her funds and economic resources to prevent acts of interference.
The Paris administrative court rejected the appeal because Fedorova failed to demonstrate 'extreme urgency' or show that the measures resulted in 'grave personal incidences.' Additionally, the court noted she challenged the measures through a 'référé-liberté' procedure rather than the 'référé suspension' process, and she failed to demonstrate a specific need to leave the Parisian territory or request authorization from the police prefect.
The Paris administrative court rejected Xenia Fedorova's 'référé-liberté' appeal because she failed to demonstrate the required 'extreme urgency' and did not state the 'grave personal incidences' resulting from the contested decisions. Additionally, the court noted that she had not requested authorization from the police prefect or expressed a specific need to leave the Parisian territory. The ruling concerns her request to suspend measures such as her expulsion, a six-month asset freeze, and house arrest conditions involving daily police reporting.
Following the court’s rejection of her appeal, Xenia Fedorova, who was already abroad, announced she will not return to France until the expulsion order is suspended or annulled, while her lawyer confirmed she is under house arrest in Paris and prohibited from working — a new condition not previously disclosed — and French authorities have now formally frozen all her assets to prevent acts of interference, adding a concrete financial sanction to the existing expulsion and movement restrictions.
Following the court's rejection of her appeal, Xenia Fedorova, who was already abroad when the expulsion order took effect on July 29, announced she will not return to France until the measure is suspended or annulled, while Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexei Fadeyev formally condemned the decision on August 6 as 'unacceptable' and 'persecution,' marking Russia's first official public response eight days after the order was issued.
