• Analysis
Russia Bans French Lawmakers and Journalists in Retaliation for Fedorova Expulsion
Russia bans French lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte and journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin from entry, a move Moscow said answers France's expulsion of commentator Xenia Fedorova.
Moscow on Wednesday announced entry bans against two French lawmakers and two French journalists, saying the step was retaliation for Paris's expulsion this year of pro-Russian TV commentator Xenia Fedorova.
Who is on the list
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova named the lawmakers as Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, and the journalists as Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin.
She said the measure was for the alleged "harassment" of Xenia Fedorova.
The Fedorova case behind the ban
Fedorova is the former head of RT France, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described her as an "agent of influence" before she was expelled. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez ordered the expulsion in July, accusing her of relaying Russian propaganda to attack "the fundamental interests of the nation".
Reactions came from both sides:
- •Fedorova, who wrote for right-wing French media, denounced "censorship" against her.
- •Moscow had for months pledged to retaliate against what it called "persecution".
A wider pattern
Moscow has long objected to European restrictions on its state-backed media, which Brussels and many EU countries have called Kremlin mouthpieces. Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has banned dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country.
