Russia accuses France of “suppressing dissent” over the expulsion of a journalist. Officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the “political persecution of journalists based on false accusations,” stating that the measures taken against Fedorova contradict France’s declared commitment to the principles of freedom of speech.
“Such actions are incompatible with France’s rhetoric about adhering to the principles of freedom of expression”, said Moscow’s deputy foreign ministry spokesman Alexey Fadeyev. Fadeyev accused the French authorities of labeling dissenting voices from the official position as Russian propaganda and attempting to push out journalists and media organizations whose positions did not align with the official line. He also criticized the persistent efforts of the French leadership aimed at accusing Russia of the country’s internal problems.
France’s accusations and the journalist’s response
The French authorities accuse Fedorova of being “a conduit for disinformation campaigns organized by the Russian authorities and aimed at destabilizing public order in France.” At the end of July, she was served with a deportation order, and her assets were frozen. Fedorova stated on Monday that she is currently outside France and has no intention of returning until these measures are suspended or canceled.
The growing popularity of Fedorova in the French media owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré has raised concerns about possible attempts to influence public debates, especially ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. Fedorova rejected the accusations, stating in a post published on her behalf on the X platform (formerly Twitter): “My behavior consists of living in France for almost 10 years in accordance with the law, paying taxes, having my own opinion, and expressing it within the framework of my journalistic work.” The original post is no longer displayed in her public profile on X.
Broader context and employer response
Previously, Fedorova headed the French branch of the Russian state broadcaster Russia Today (RT), whose programs were banned in the European Union from March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Her current employers, Canal+ and Lagardère, defended her, calling the actions of the French government “a particularly serious violation of freedom of expression.”
This case occurs amid growing concern in France about foreign interference and disinformation campaigns ahead of next year’s presidential elections. The French authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of seeking to exacerbate political divisions and shape public opinion through coordinated influence operations. Moscow has denied interfering in France’s internal affairs and accused European governments of using accusations of Russian propaganda to suppress alternative viewpoints.
Source: RFI
