Russia Calls France's Expulsion Order Against Xenia Fedorova 'Political Persecution'

Russia has denounced France's decision to expel pro-Kremlin columnist Xenia Fedorova as "political persecution" based on "fallacious accusations." The Russian Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesperson, Alexeï Fadeïev, criticized France's actions as incompatible with its stated commitment to freedom of expression.

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Such actions are incompatible with the rhetoric in France concerning its attachment to the principles of freedom of expression.

Fadeïev argued that France labels any dissenting view as Russian propaganda and attempts to silence journalists and media outlets. He also criticized French leaders for attributing the country's problems to Russia. "Every divergent point of view is qualified as Russian propaganda, which is accompanied by attempts to evict journalists and entire media outlets," he stated, decrying what he called "censorship of opinions that do not correspond to the official line."

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Every divergent point of view is qualified as Russian propaganda, which is accompanied by attempts to evict journalists and entire media outlets.

France accuses Fedorova, who appears in several French media outlets, of acting as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities to destabilize public order. She faces expulsion and asset freezes. Fedorova, who previously headed Russian state channel RT's French branch, has stated she will only return to France when these measures are suspended or annulled. Her employers, Canal+ and Lagardère, have condemned the expulsion as a "particularly serious attack on freedom of expression."

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My behavior (...) consists of living in France for almost ten years respecting the law, paying my taxes, but also having an opinion and expressing it as part of my work as a journalist.