In a tit-for-tat move, the Russian government has barred two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the country, retaliating against France's expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France. This action was announced by Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, on Wednesday. The ban comes in response to France's expulsion of Fedorova in July, who was accused of being an "agent of influence" by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. According to reports, Fedorova, who had written for right-wing French media, described the move as censorship and claimed that she had been persecuted. Russia has long criticized European restrictions on its state-backed media and journalists, viewing them as Kremlin mouthpieces. Sacha Houlie, a French lawmaker, responded to the ban by stating that it was recognition of his work against foreign interference in France. He mentioned his report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation, the law aimed at preventing interference, and his role in securing the expulsion of Russian agent Fedorova. Russia has previously barred dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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The Russian government has responded to France's expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France, by banning two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering Russia. This retaliatory measure was announced by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday. The ban is alleged to be in response to France's accusation that Fedorova was an "agent of influence," a claim she disputes as censorship and persecution. Sacha Houlie, one of the lawmakers affected by the ban, has interpreted it as recognition of his work against foreign interference in France.
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In a move reminiscent of a diplomatic spat, Russia has barred two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the country. This action follows France's expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France, who was accused of being an "agent of influence" by the French government. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, announced the ban on Wednesday. Russia has long expressed discontent over European restrictions on its state-backed media and journalists, viewing them as Kremlin mouthpieces. Sacha Houlie, one of the affected lawmakers, sees the ban as a recognition of his efforts against foreign interference in France.
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Russia has retaliated against France's expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France, by banning two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the country. This move was announced by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday. The ban is in response to France's accusation that Fedorova was an "agent of influence," a claim she denies as censorship and persecution. Sacha Houlie, one of the affected lawmakers, interprets the ban as recognition of his work against foreign interference in France. This latest development is part of a series of similar measures taken by Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, involving the barring of dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers from entering the country.