France warns CNews over rebroadcast of expelled pro-Putin pundit

France’s government issued a formal condemnation on Thursday after Russian commentator Xenia Federova returned to the conservative French television channel CNews, a move that many officials say signals a breach of the country’s expulsion order. Federova was expelled in August on allegations that she acted as a Kremlin agent and had disseminated pro‑Kremlin propaganda on French radio and television. Her re‑appearance on a domestic broadcast platform has prompted the government to reaffirm its stance on foreign influence operations and to warn that such actions undermine France’s efforts to counter disinformation.

The Ministry of the Interior reiterated that Federova’s return violates the conditions of her expulsion and could constitute a violation of French law. Officials highlighted that the decision to allow her to appear on CNews is inconsistent with France’s broader strategy to limit the spread of Kremlin‑aligned narratives. The government has called for a review of the channel’s compliance with national regulations and urged other media outlets to remain vigilant against foreign interference. In closing, Paris reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its media landscape and to enforcing the rules that prohibit individuals with alleged ties to hostile foreign powers from influencing public opinion.