France orders Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova out

France ordered Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave the country on Wednesday, the interior ministry said, after accusations that she spread Kremlin propaganda on French television and radio.

French newspaper Liberation cited the expulsion order as accusing the former RT journalist of acting “as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by the Russian authorities” with the aim of “destabilising public order” in France.

Fedorova's lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, told AFP she would immediately appeal. He said Fedorova is a journalist and called the decision a serious infringement of freedom of expression.

RT France was shut down in 2023, a year after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Fedorova later became a commentator for outlets in Vincent Bollore's media group, including CNews, Europe 1 and Le Journal du Dimanche.