English
Russia has banned two French lawmakers and two French journalists from entering the country, citing France’s earlier expulsion of a prominent pro-Kremlin media figure as justification for the move.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced the decision on Wednesday. She named lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, along with journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin, as the four individuals now barred from Russia.
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Retaliation Over Fedorova Expulsion
Zakharova said the ban came in response to what she described as the “harassment” of Xenia Fedorova. Fedorova is the former head of RT France, the French-language branch of Russia’s state-run international broadcaster. France banned RT after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In July, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez ordered Fedorova’s expulsion. He accused her of spreading Russian propaganda and attempting to undermine France’s fundamental national interests. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had also described her as an “agent of influence.” Fedorova, who also wrote for right-wing French media outlets, condemned the decision as “censorship.”
Moscow’s Broader Campaign Against Western Restrictions
Moscow had pledged for months to retaliate against what it called the “persecution” of its media figures abroad. Russia has long pushed back against European restrictions on its state-backed journalists and broadcasters. Brussels and many EU member states have labelled these outlets as Kremlin mouthpieces.
Furthermore, Russia’s entry bans on Western officials and journalists are not new. Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has barred dozens of Western lawmakers and journalists from the country. Wednesday’s announcement adds four more French nationals to that growing list.
The move reflects the continued deterioration of relations between Russia and Western Europe. As both sides impose reciprocal restrictions, diplomatic and media freedoms remain caught in the crossfire of the broader conflict over Ukraine.
