French authorities have issued a stark warning to the conservative television network CNews, stating that allowing the return of Xenia Fedorova, a Russian commentator who was previously expelled from the country, could lead to criminal proceedings.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez communicated this stance in a letter addressed to France’s media regulator, ARCOM, as reported by Le Monde and confirmed by AFP. The correspondence emphasized that reinstating Fedorova on air would directly contradict the legal measures imposed on her and could expose the broadcaster to multiple criminal charges.
Fedorova, 45, was formally deported from France in August following a court decision that upheld her expulsion. Authorities had accused her of acting as a Kremlin agent, spreading pro-regime propaganda across French media outlets, manipulating public debate, and infringing upon the nation’s fundamental interests. As part of the ruling, her assets were also frozen.
The former head of RT France, the French-language branch of the Russian state-funded broadcaster banned in France after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, continued working as a commentator for CNews and other outlets owned by French billionaire Vincent Bollore. Fedorova has characterized the accusations against her as “censorship” and noted that she was on holiday outside France when the deportation order took effect, meaning she was never physically removed from the country.
CNews has indicated plans to feature Fedorova on its broadcasts soon via video link, prompting the government’s intervention.
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