France expels Russian media commentator over disinformation

Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova has been ordered to leave France, the country's Interior Ministry said Wednesday. She has been accused of disseminating Kremlin propaganda on French television and radio.

According to French newspaper Liberation, the expulsion order accuses Fedorova of acting "as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by the Russian authorities" with the aim of "destabilising public order" in France.

According to the AFP news agency, Fedorova has been placed under house arrest since the order was issued.

Fedorova is the former chief of the Russia Today (RT) in France, which was ultimately banned in the country after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

She stayed in the country and became a commentator for broadcasting outlets owned by French billionaire Vincent Bollore's media conglomerate.

According to French daily Le Monde, Fedorova has been known to be a "protege" of Bollore.

Fedorova made frequent appearances on the CNews television channel and Europe 1 radio.

She also writes for Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, where she has been accused of spreading Kremlin talking points about Ukraine and the West.