Sawt Falasteen - French court rejects pro-Kremlin commentator's deportation appeal

The ruling follows France's decision last week to expel Xenia Fedorova and freeze her assets, a move she denounced as "censorship".

The 45-year-old, a former journalist for Russia's state-run RT television channel, failed to show that being ordered to leave France would have "serious personal consequences", the Paris administrative court said.

Her lawyer told AFP that his client was abroad when the expulsion order was issued, adding she will not return to France unless it is suspended or overturned.

She intends to challenge the ruling, Emmanuel Piwnica added.

Officials raised the alarm about Fedorova's influence as France faces elections next year, with the far right eyeing presidential power.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez accused her of relaying Russian propaganda to undermine "the fundamental interests of the nation", while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has described her as an "agent of influence".

Fedorova is the former head of the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

She is a commentator for outlets within conservative French billionaire Vincent Bollore's media stable, including the CNews television channel, which is seen as modelled on America's Fox News.

In her book, "Bannie" ("Banned") published last year, Fedorova portrays herself as a victim of state censorship.

L.AbuAli--SF-PST