Xenia Fedorova denounces France expulsion order

Xenia Fedorova, a Russian television commentator and former head of RT France, denounced France's order for her to leave the country as "censorship" on Friday after French authorities accused her of relaying pro-Kremlin propaganda.

France ordered Fedorova to leave this week. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez accused her of relaying Russian propaganda in an attempt to attack what he called the fundamental interests of the nation.

France also froze Fedorova's assets for six months. The finance ministry said a decree published Friday immediately froze the assets under a legal mechanism aimed at preventing new acts of interference.

Fedorova wrote on X that the decision was "political pressure" and targeted opinions outside the official narrative. Her lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, said she would appeal and called her the victim of a "relentless campaign".

Nunez told RTL the order was "thoroughly justified" and said Fedorova had repeatedly echoed Kremlin positions on Ukraine, France's involvement and Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

Fedorova, 45, formerly headed the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. She now appears as a commentator for outlets in conservative French billionaire Vincent Bollore's media group, including CNews and Europe 1.

Her employers said this week they were astonished by the expulsion order and called it a serious infringement of freedom of expression. France had extended Fedorova's residence permit by 10 years in 2024.