France has issued a deportation order for Xenia Fedorova, a Russian author and TV commentator known for pro-Kremlin views, who regularly appeared on Vincent Bolloré's CNews channel. Fedorova previously ran the state-backed Russia Today in France before its shutdown in 2022. She often echoed Russian talking points, framing the war in Ukraine as a "special operation" and blaming Europe for the conflict.

An interior ministry official stated Fedorova "acts as a conduit for disinformation campaigns directed by the Russian authorities," undermining state interests and posing a threat to public order. Her lawyer plans to appeal the order, calling it an "attack on freedom of expression." Fedorova, who held a long-term residency permit granted in 2024, has been placed under house arrest in Paris.

Critics fear Bolloré's media empire, which includes CNews, Canal+, and Europe 1, may promote far-right candidates ahead of upcoming elections. President Emmanuel Macron previously described Russia Today as a "state propaganda agency." Bolloré's media outlets have expressed support for Fedorova, emphasizing freedom of speech.