Former RT France Director Faces Calls for EU Sanctions After Reappearing on French Media
Protesters and European Parliament members are calling for EU sanctions against Ksenia Fedorova, former director of RT France, who has resumed regular media appearances on French conservative outlets since RT France was shut down in 2022. Fedorova spent over 17 years at Russian state broadcaster RT and now appears on channels owned by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including CNews and Europe 1. Critics argue she continues to spread Kremlin narratives, while her supporters and the outlets hosting her defend her presence as legitimate journalism.
Ksenia Fedorova, who served as director of RT France for over 17 years, is facing mounting pressure from protesters, press freedom advocates, and European Parliament members who are urging the EU to impose sanctions on her. RT France was shut down in 2023 after French authorities froze its bank accounts following European sanctions on Russian state media in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since late 2024, Fedorova has regularly appeared as a commentator on Bolloré-owned outlets including CNews, Europe 1, and JDNews. Critics, including Reporters Without Borders, accuse her of continuing to promote Kremlin talking points, citing her use of phrases like 'special military operation' and her characterization of Russia's annexation of Crimea as a 'reunification.' Fedorova denies being a propagandist and frames criticism of her work as politically motivated and discriminatory based on her Russian nationality. Canal+ executives have defended her appearances, while pro-Ukrainian activists have staged multiple protests, including disrupting the launch of her book 'Bannie' ('Exiled') at Paris' Grand Palais. The case has sparked a broader debate in France about the boundaries between journalism, free speech, and state-sponsored propaganda.
What's missing
Coverage largely omits detailed scrutiny of Vincent Bolloré's broader media empire and its editorial direction, which is relevant context for understanding why Fedorova found a platform there. Additionally, the specific legal threshold required for the EU to impose individual sanctions on a media figure — and whether Fedorova meets it — is rarely explained.
How coverage differed
The Moscow Times, despite its name, is an independent English-language outlet critical of the Kremlin and frames Fedorova largely through the lens of her critics and press freedom advocates. Coverage from French outlets like Le Monde has reportedly focused on specific examples of her pro-Kremlin language, while Bolloré-owned outlets hosting her have defended her role, reflecting a divide between liberal and conservative French media.
What different sources said
- The Moscow TimesCenter
'Fedorova, Out!': Ex-RT Journalist Faces Increasing Scrutiny in France
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