The Kremlin has enacted a retaliatory measure by blacklisting two French lawmakers and two journalists, as reported by Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. The ban comes in response to France's expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, a pro-Kremlin media network commentator, earlier this year. Fedorova, who served as the head of RT France from 2017 to 2023, was described by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot as an "agent of influence" and was expelled in July. Moscow accused France of harassment towards Fedorova, with Zakharova stating that lawmakers Sacha Houlie and Arthur Delaporte, along with journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin, would be barred from entering Russia. French lawmaker Sacha Houlie viewed the ban as a recognition of his work against foreign interference in France, citing his report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation and the law he passed in 2024 aimed at preventing such interference. Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has banned numerous Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country.
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Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced on Wednesday that two French lawmakers and two journalists would be prohibited from entering Russia due to alleged harassment of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France. The ban was enacted in response to France's expulsion of Fedorova earlier this year, who was labeled an "agent of influence" by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and expelled in July. Fedorova, a writer for right-wing French media, denied the accusations of censorship against her and claimed that Moscow would retaliate against perceived persecution.
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French lawmaker Sacha Houlie viewed the travel ban as a form of recognition for his work against foreign interference in France. He highlighted his report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation, the law he passed in 2024 aimed at preventing such interference, and his role in securing the expulsion of Russian agent Xenia Fedorova as evidence of his efforts. The ban comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Europe regarding restrictions on state-backed media and journalists, who have been criticized by Brussels and numerous European Union countries as Kremlin mouthpieces.
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Since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has banned dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country. Xenia Fedorova was expelled by France in July, following accusations that she relayed Russian propaganda with the intention of attacking "the fundamental interests of the nation." The Kremlin has consistently bristled against such European restrictions on its media and journalists.