France orders expulsion of Russian media figure Fedorova

French authorities have issued an expulsion order against Xenia Fedorova, a Russian media figure and former head of France, citing her alleged role in spreading disinformation on behalf of the Russian state.

The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the decision and said the order argues her activities were intended to destabilize public order and influence domestic opinion inside France.

Interior Ministry cites public-order and influence concerns

Officials said Fedorova is currently under house arrest and is barred from carrying out professional activity in France. The order is framed as a security-related measure linked to information activity rather than a conventional criminal proceeding, according to the official description of the case.

The expulsion action follows extended scrutiny over her visibility and influence in parts of the French media landscape. Officials and lawmakers have pointed in particular to platforms linked to media assets owned by the Bolloré group, describing them as places where her interventions were amplified.

Lawmakers raise election-linked foreign interference risk

Lawmakers have said they view her commentary on NATO and the war in Ukraine as a potential channel for foreign interference. They have tied those concerns to the approach of France’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that information campaigns can shape perceptions well before a vote takes place.

Authorities have not, in the material cited, detailed specific broadcasts or statements that underpin the expulsion order. However, the Interior Ministry position, as described, is that the purpose and effect of the activity is manipulation of domestic opinion and disruption of public order.

Appeals expected as removal faces diplomatic hurdles

Legal challenges to the expulsion order are expected. Any court process could determine whether the measure is upheld, modified, or suspended, and how restrictions such as house arrest and the work ban are applied while litigation proceeds.

Officials and observers also point to practical barriers to enforcement. With formal diplomatic channels between Paris and Moscow described as absent, the physical removal of an individual from French territory could face significant logistical complications.

Broader push against information operations

The case is presented as part of continuing efforts by French security services to counter foreign-backed information operations that officials say target the country’s political environment. In this instance, authorities argue the alleged activity is linked to a foreign state and warrants administrative action aimed at reducing perceived risk.

Key uncertainties remain, including the timeline for legal proceedings and whether logistical constraints will delay or prevent the expulsion from being carried out in practice.