Russia bans four French figures following expulsion of Xenia Fedorova

The Russian government has banned two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the country, Euronews reported on Wednesday. The Russian foreign ministry announced the travel bans against French MPs Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, alongside journalists Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the individuals were targeted because of their involvement in harassing political commentator Xenia Fedorova and calling for her expulsion from France. [1]

Euronews reported that one of the banned French figures described the measure as recognition of his work against foreign interference. Meanwhile, the European Union has accused Fedorova of spreading Kremlin talking points on French television. [1]

Fedorova served as the head of the media outlet RT France between 2017 and 2023. The French Ministry of the Interior issued an expulsion order against her in July 2026 for her activities. She was born in Kazan, Russia, in December 1980, studied journalism in Russia, and earned an Executive Master of Business Administration in Germany in 2014. [2][5]