EU imposes sanctions on former head of Russia Today France
The Council of the EU has decided to impose sanctions on Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the French-language branch of RT (formerly Russia Today), a Russian state-controlled news network funded by the Kremlin, due to her involvement in Russian hybrid activities.
Source: European Pravda, citing a press release by the Council of the EU
Details: Xenia Fedorova is a Russian media figure and former senior executive of RT France. The Council of the EU noted that in this position, she participated in implementing and disseminating RT France's editorial line, particularly pro-Russian narratives regarding Russia's war against Ukraine.
Following the suspension of RT's broadcasting in the EU, Xenia Fedorova continued to disseminate narratives aligned with those promoted by the Russian authorities regarding the war against Ukraine, European support for Ukraine, NATO and relations between Russia and the European Union across French media outlets such as CNews, Europe 1 and Le JDNews.
Following the update of the sanctions list in connection with Russia's destabilising activities, EU sanctions now apply to a total of 81 individuals and 20 legal entities.
Read more: Propaganda beyond RT: how Russian influence adapts to media sanctions in France
Commenting on this EU decision, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that his country "will continue to counter destabilising actions carried out by Russia on our territory."
"We are entirely determined: those who believe they can carry out actions targeted against our democracy with impunity will be held accountable for it," he wrote on X (Twitter).
Background:
- On 29 July, the Ministry of the Interior of France issued a deportation order for Xenia Fedorova.
- In August, the Administrative Court of Paris dismissed Fedorova's appeal against her expulsion from the country and the freezing of her assets.
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