France warns CNews over return of expelled commentator
Paris threatens legal action against a conservative broadcaster for planning to feature a Russian pundit previously expelled for alleged ties to the Kremlin.
The French government has issued a stern warning to the conservative television channel CNews regarding its plans to feature Xenia Federova, a Russian commentator who was formally expelled from the country in August. According to officials, her return to the airwaves would directly contravene recent legal measures and could result in serious criminal proceedings.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote to the media regulator ARCOM, stating that allowing Federova to appear on French television constitutes a violation of her expulsion order and asset-freezing measures. The letter, which was disclosed by Le Monde and reviewed by AFP, emphasizes that such actions are liable to trigger multiple criminal charges against the broadcasting entity.
Legal basis for the expulsion order
Federova, 45, was ordered to leave France after losing an appeal against a court ruling that cited her role in spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. The authorities accused her of manipulating information and public debate, actions they described as infringing upon the fundamental interests of the nation. This legal framework forms the basis for the current warning issued to her former and current media employers.
Prior to her expulsion, Federova served as the head of the French branch of RT, a state-funded broadcaster that was banned in France following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She subsequently transitioned to working with outlets within the media group controlled by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including CNews, where she continued to offer commentary on geopolitical issues.
Commentator disputes allegations of censorship
Federova has consistently rejected the accusations levied against her, describing the measures as a form of censorship. She noted that she was outside France on holiday when the deportation order took effect, meaning she was never physically removed from the country. Despite this technicality, the government maintains that her legal status remains that of an expelled individual, restricting her ability to operate within French media spaces.
Regulatory scrutiny of media compliance
The intervention by the interior ministry highlights the heightened sensitivity surrounding media content that Paris views as aligned with foreign state interests. By contacting the ARCOM regulator directly, the government is signaling that it will enforce compliance with expulsion orders not just against the individuals involved, but also against the institutions that host them. This approach underscores a broader strategy to limit what officials perceive as informational manipulation from external actors.
Observers note that the situation places CNews in a difficult position, as it seeks to maintain its editorial stance while navigating strict legal boundaries. The upcoming appearance via video link is being closely watched by legal experts and media analysts to determine if it will be treated as a breach of the expulsion measures. The outcome of this dispute may set a precedent for how French authorities handle similar cases involving foreign commentators with alleged ties to hostile states.
