France issues expulsion order against Russian TV star Xenia Fedorova

PARIS — French authorities have moved to expel from the country Xenia Fedorova, a Russian media star who has courted controversy for her pro-Kremlin narrative. Fedorova, the former head of the Kremlin-backed RT France news outlet, was handed an expulsion order by the Paris Prefecture of Police, which handles immigration matters for foreigners living in the French capital, according to a report by French newspaper Libération published Wednesday that was confirmed by POLITICO. “By spreading her narratives, [Xenia Fedorova] acts as a conduit for disinformation campaigns led by Russian authorities,” with the aim of “destabilizing public order” in France, reads the document, seen by Libération. It also accuses Fedorova of “contribut[ing] to the spread of disinformation and destabilization” in order to manipulate public opinion. The French Ministry of the Interior told POLITICO the order to remove her from the country was signed on Tuesday. Xenia Fedorova did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but her lawyer told Agence France-Presse she would challenge the decision. Fedorova headed RT France before it was shut down due to EU sanctions in 2023. She has since become a fixture on the CNews television channel, Europe 1 radio station and Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper — all owned by conservative French billionaire Vincent Bolloré. As POLITICO previously reported, the TV star’s commentary echoing Moscow talking points on Ukraine, NATO and European security was raising concerns among lawmakers and Russian propaganda experts for months, especially ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election. Le Monde also reported Fedorova has allegedly grown very close to Bolloré, a powerful figure who has been leveraging his media empire to try and influence French politics. In her coverage on Bolloré’s platforms, Fedorova has often accused French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO of warmongering, presenting Russia as a peaceful country looking to end the war in Ukraine. She also regularly criticizes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and depicts the country as corrupt and incapable of winning the war. In Brussels, some members of the European Parliament have been unsuccessfully lobbying for Fedorova to be included in the EU’s Russian sanctions packages, while several lawmakers in Paris have pushed for her residence permit to be revoked. Fedorova is now under house arrest and banned from working on French soil. However, according to Libération, the lack of diplomatic ties between Paris and Moscow will make it difficult to actually deport her back to Russia. Anthony Lattier contributed to this report.