France freezes assets of controversial Russian commentator Fedorova

The decree published on Friday immediately freezes her assets, citing a legal mechanism "aimed at preventing the commission of acts of interference" which could be renewed, the French finance ministry specified.

Fedorova, who works for conservative French billionaire Vincent Bolloré's media empire, was ordered by the interior ministry on Wednesday to leave the country, following accusations she was relaying Kremlin propaganda on French television.

Her lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, denounced the move as a "manifestly illegal measure" that "confirms the relentless targeting of her." "It is no better justified than her expulsion," he told French news agency AFP.

In a post on social media platform X, Fedorova, who has announced her intention to challenge the expulsion order slammed the latest move as "political pressure" and "censorship".

"We are witnessing an entirely new form of political pressure with a single objective: the censorship of opinions that do not conform to the official narrative," she wrote.

Destabilise public order

The former head of the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, is a commentator for outlets within French billionaire Vincent Bolloré's broadcasting powerhouse.

Accused of acting as a "conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities" to "destabilise public order" in France, Fedorova has been under house arrest since Wednesday and is required to report to the police station daily.

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Her public appearances are marked by recurring themes: according to her, "it is the West that decided to prolong" the war in Ukraine, and Europe is tempted to "go to war against Russia."

Certain remarks made on CNews have prompted several complaints to the media regulator, which are currently under review.

Her growing presence in media outlets within the Bolloré sphere has raised concerns about the manipulation of public debate, particularly regarding the 2027 presidential election campaign.

In a statement, Fedorova's employers, Canal+ and Lagardère have denounced "a particularly serious infringement of freedom of expression".

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated on Thursday that the expulsion order does "not infringe upon freedom of expression."

"It is a thoroughly substantiated order that cites numerous statements she has made – statements that consistently echo Kremlin propaganda regarding France's involvement, the situation in Ukraine, and the reasons and motives behind the Russian aggression there. She consistently parrots Russia's exact wording and intervenes in French political debate on these issues," the minister told RTL radio on Friday.

Political pressure

Meanwhile, the case has divided French politicians on the far-right.

"That lady's positions are not those of the National Rally," RN MP Thomas Ménagé told public broadcaster Franceinfo on Thursday.

"If state authorities determined that she should not remain on French soil, it is because she met the criteria," he clarified, adding that there is an "urgent need to protect ourselves" against the various forms of Russian interference targeting France.

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He nevertheless expressed hope for the "same speed in expelling" foreign offenders subject to deportation orders –specifically those from other countries, such as Algeria.

RN MEP Thierry Mariani criticized the government, stating it "might finally succeed in silencing one of the few dissenting voices in the French press that did not parrot the sanctioned official narrative regarding the conflict in Ukraine."

"In the meantime, freedom of opinion is in retreat!" added the elected official, who is frequently singled out by political opponents for his closeness to Russia.

More broadly within the far-right camp, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan – a presidential candidate – decried the situation as a "scandal" on X. He denounced it as "out-and-out censorship, worthy of a dictatorship," and argued that in France today, "a commentator can be ousted because her views do not align with those of the powers that be."

(with AFP)