Xenia Fedorova loses French deportation appeal

A Paris court on Monday rejected Russian television commentator Xenia Fedorova's appeal against an order to leave France after authorities accused her of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.

The Paris administrative court said Fedorova, 45, a former journalist for Russia's state-run RT television channel, had not shown that the order would have "serious personal consequences" for her.

France ordered Fedorova to leave the country last week and froze her assets. She denounced the move as "censorship".

Her lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, told AFP that Fedorova was abroad when the expulsion order was issued and would not return to France unless it is suspended or overturned. He said she intends to challenge the ruling.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez accused Fedorova of relaying Russian propaganda to undermine "the fundamental interests of the nation". Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has described her as an "agent of influence".

Fedorova is the former head of the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. She is a commentator for outlets in French billionaire Vincent Bollore's media group, including CNews.