French Foreign Minister Criticizes Return of Expelled Russian Commentator to Bolloré Media

French Foreign Minister Jean Noél Barrot has expressed distress over the decision by media outlets owned by billionaire Vincent Bollére to allow Xenia Fedorova to return to their platforms. Fedorova, a 45 year old pro Kremlin commentator, was expelled from France in late July after previously being expelled from Germany. The French government also froze her assets and properties for six months. Despite the expulsion, CNews announced that Fedorova will return to the airwaves via remote video links, while she continues to write for the weekly publication JDNews.

Barrot described Fedorova as a propagandist and an agent of interference working for Russia against France and the European Union. He stated that her expulsion was justified by proven facts and questioned why media groups would provide resources and airtime to someone accused of participating in Russian disinformation campaigns to destabilize public order. CNews presenter Gauthier Le Bret defended the move by noting that while the government prevents her from entering France, she is not prohibited from appearing remotely to provide her analysis and expertise.

Reports indicate that Fedorova's increasing presence in Bollére's media empire has raised concerns regarding the manipulation of public debate ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. While both reports cover the same events, the center left framing emphasizes her role as an agent of subversion and interference, whereas the center framing focuses on the clash between the government and the media group.