France warns TV channel over possible return of expelled pro-Kremlin commentator
France's interior minister has warned that a television channel could face criminal proceedings if it puts expelled Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova back on air. The warning comes after the channel indicated she may appear again soon by video link. The case has become the latest flashpoint in France over media freedom, foreign influence and the enforcement of expulsion measures.
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Interior Minister Laurent Nunez wrote to the country's media regulator, saying Fedorova had been accused of manipulating information and public debate and of infringing the fundamental interests of the nation. He said any return to air would directly contravene the expulsion and asset-freezing measures imposed on her and could lead to several criminal charges. The letter was reported by a French daily and seen by AFP, according to the supporting material.
Fedorova, 45, was formally expelled from France in August after losing an appeal against a court ruling ordering her to leave the country. The ruling followed allegations that she had spread pro-Kremlin propaganda on French television and radio. Her assets were also frozen as part of the measures, and she has rejected the accusations as censorship.
The dispute matters because it sits at the intersection of national security and press regulation in France. It also reflects wider European concerns about Russian influence operations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Fedorova previously headed the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after the invasion, before later becoming a commentator for outlets in the broadcasting group controlled by conservative billionaire Vincent Bollore.
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The channel has indicated that Fedorova may return through a video appearance rather than a physical presence in France. That detail raises questions about how authorities will interpret the expulsion order and whether remote participation would still breach the legal restrictions. The warning from the interior ministry suggests the government is prepared to test those limits if the appearance goes ahead.
What remains unclear is whether the regulator will take action, whether the channel will proceed with the planned appearance, and how any legal challenge might unfold. It is also not yet clear how prosecutors would assess a remote broadcast under the existing expulsion and asset-freezing measures. The next developments are likely to hinge on the channel's programming decisions and any response from the regulator or the courts.
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