France Orders Expulsion of Pro-Russian Propagandist as 'Channel for Disinformation'

The French government has ordered the deportation of a Russian propagandist who repeatedly appeared on major media outlets to spread pro-Russian messages.

According to the daily Liberation on Tuesday, local time (July 28), the French Ministry of the Interior decided to expel Ksenia Fedorova, the former head of the French branch of the Russian state news channel RT.

In the deportation order obtained by Liberation, the French government judged that Fedorova "serves as a conduit for a disinformation campaign organized by Russian authorities and is attempting to destabilize public order within France."

RT France was shut down in the country in 2023, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but Fedorova has continued to expand her influence in the French public sphere.

She has regularly appeared on the far-right broadcasting channel CNews and Europe 1, both under the media group owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore—often dubbed the "French Murdoch"—and has contributed columns to the weekly magazine Journal du Dimanche (JDD).

Her appearances primarily involved repeatedly conveying the Kremlin's narrative regarding the war in Ukraine and Western nations.

The French government took issue with Fedorova's activities amid rising concerns over potential Russian interference in domestic politics ahead of next year's presidential election.

Appearing on CNews last May, Fedorova claimed that "Russia can help the French economy" and argued that the next French president must maintain friendly relations with Moscow.

An aide to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told the daily Le Monde that the deportation order is "a sovereign decision that effectively revokes her residency status and bans her from working."

Fedorova's lawyer criticized the decision to AFP, stating, "We will appeal immediately," and calling the move "a serious violation of freedom of expression."

Although the French government has issued a deportation order against Fedorova, she cannot be forcibly expelled unless she leaves voluntarily.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, consular cooperation has virtually been suspended due to staff reductions at embassies and mutual expulsions of diplomats between France and Russia.

Additionally, direct flights do not exist because airspace between Russia and European Union member states has been closed since March 2022.

However, as a result of the deportation order, Fedorova has been placed under house arrest and must report to the police daily to verify her whereabouts, an Interior Ministry official told Liberation.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.