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Assets frozen, expulsion ordered
France froze the assets of pro-Kremlin commentator Xenia Fedorova for six months, adding a financial measure to an expulsion order issued against her over accusations of spreading Kremlin propaganda on French television and undermining democracy.
“aimed at preventing the commission of acts of interference”
The French finance ministry said the decree published on Friday immediately froze her assets, citing a legal mechanism "aimed at preventing the commission of acts of interference" that could be renewed.
RFI said Fedorova was ordered by the interior ministry on Wednesday to leave the country after accusations she was relaying Kremlin propaganda on French television, and her lawyer Emmanuel Piwnica denounced the move as a "manifestly illegal measure".
Le Monde reported the six-month freeze was ordered on Thursday, July 30, and published in the Official Journal, targeting all funds and economic resources owned by Fedorova or controlled by her, as well as those of entities acting on her behalf or under her control.
Threats, censorship, and appeals
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the expulsion order does not infringe upon freedom of expression, arguing it is "a thoroughly substantiated order" that cites statements she made that "consistently echo Kremlin propaganda".
RFI quoted Fedorova’s response on social media platform X, where she called the latest move "political pressure" and "censorship".
Le Monde reported that Fedorova’s lawyer Emmanuel Piwnica described the asset-freeze as "a manifestly illegal measure" that confirms the harassment of Ms. Fedorova.
Ouest-France said Nuñez accused the commentator of relaying Kremlin propaganda and of being "a threat to the fundamental interests of the nation," and it added that the expulsion order was accompanied by "a house arrest order."
Who she is, and what’s at stake
Le Monde said the order identifies Fedorova under different spellings and two different dates of birth, listing her as Ksenia BORCHIK FEDOROVA, born December 26, 1980, in Kazan, Russian Federation, and also as Kseniya FEDOROVA, born July 30, 1980.
“born December 26, 1980, in Kazan”
RFI described Fedorova as the former head of the French arm of RT, which was banned in France after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and said she has been under house arrest since Wednesday and required to report to the police station daily.
Le Monde reported that the freezing takes effect today and is renewable where applicable by publication of a new order, and it said the measure aims to prevent the commission of new acts of interference by preventing the provision or use of funds or economic resources for the benefit of the person concerned.
El País added that the decision means her residence permit will be withdrawn and she will not be able to work, while it said she arrived in France in 2017 to launch RT in that country and appears on CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du dimanche.
