Russia has blacklisted two French lawmakers and two French journalists in retaliation for France's expulsion of a pro-Kremlin television commentator earlier this year, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, along with journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin, would be banned from entering Russia. Zakharova attributed the ban to the alleged "harassment" of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France.
Fedorova, who wrote for right-wing French media, was described as an “agent of influence” by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and expelled in July. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had accused her of relaying Russian propaganda in an attempt to attack “the fundamental interests of the nation”. Fedorova herself slammed “censorship” against her, and Moscow pledged for months to retaliate against what it called “persecution”.
French lawmaker Sacha Houlié responded to the ban in a post on X, saying: "What is intended as a sanction strikes me as recognition of my work against foreign interference in France." He added: "From my report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation to the law aimed at preventing interference that I had passed in 2024, right through to securing the expulsion of the Russian agent Fedorova."
Russia has long bristled against European restrictions on its state-backed media, which Brussels and many European Union countries have denounced as Kremlin mouthpieces. Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has banned dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The bans escalate diplomatic tensions between Russia and France, part of a broader pattern of retaliation over media and influence operations.
- The move targets elected officials and journalists, raising concerns about press freedom and political dialogue between Russia and the West.
- The dispute reflects ongoing friction over Russian state-backed media in Europe, with EU countries increasingly cracking down on outlets accused of spreading propaganda.
Background
Russia has repeatedly retaliated against Western countries since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, expelling diplomats and banning journalists and lawmakers. France expelled Xenia Fedorova in July 2026 after accusing her of acting as an "agent of influence" and spreading Russian propaganda.
Key Perspectives
Russia (Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova): The bans are a response to the "harassment" of Xenia Fedorova and to France's expulsion of her.
France (Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez): Fedorova was an "agent of influence" whose work attacked "the fundamental interests of the nation".
French lawmaker Sacha Houlié: The ban is "recognition of my work against foreign interference in France", citing his efforts including a law against interference and securing Fedorova's expulsion.
Xenia Fedorova: She has described restrictions against her as "censorship".
What to Watch
- Whether France or the EU imposes further diplomatic measures in response to the bans.
- Whether Russia extends the ban to more French or European officials and journalists.
- Continued European regulatory actions against Russian state-backed media outlets.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
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- SupportedRussia banned two French lawmakers and two French journalists in a tit-for-tat move.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Russia bans two French lawmakers, two journalists in tit-for-tat move.”
- SupportedMoscow retaliated after France expelled Xenia Fedorova in July.France 24 Europe: “Moscow for months pledged to retaliate against "persecution". Ordering her expulsion in July, France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had accused her”
- SupportedThe people named for the ban were lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte and journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin.France 24 Europe: “Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte would be banned, along with journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin.”
- SupportedZakharova attributed the ban to the alleged “harassment” of Fedorova.France 24 Europe: “She said this was for the alleged "harassment" of Xenia Fedorova”
- SupportedFedorova was the former head of RT France.France 24 Europe: “Xenia Fedorova, former head of RT France”
- SupportedFrench Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described Fedorova as an “agent of influence.”France 24 Europe: “who was described as an "agent of influence" by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot”
- SupportedFedorova was expelled in July.France 24 Europe: “Ordering her expulsion in July”
- SupportedLaurent Nuñez accused Fedorova of relaying Russian propaganda to attack “the fundamental interests of the nation.”France 24 Europe: “France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had accused her of relaying Russian propaganda in an attempt to attack "the fundamental interests of the nation".”
- SupportedFedorova slammed “censorship” against her.France 24 Europe: “Fedorova, who wrote for right-wing French media, slammed "censorship" against her”
- SupportedMoscow pledged for months to retaliate against what it called “persecution.”France 24 Europe: “Moscow for months pledged to retaliate against "persecution".”
- SupportedHoulié said on X, “What is intended as a sanction strikes me as recognition of my work against foreign interference in France.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In a post on X, French lawmaker Sacha Houlie said: “What is intended as a sanction strikes me as recognition of my work against foreign interference in France.””
- SupportedHoulié added, “From my report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation to the law aimed at preventing interference that I had passed in 2024, right through to securing the expulsion of the Russian agent Fedorova.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““From my report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation to the law aimed at preventing interference that I had passed in 2024, right through to securing the expulsion of the Russian agent Fedorova,” Houlie added.”