Russia banned two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the country on Wednesday in retaliation for France's expulsion of a pro-Kremlin commentator earlier this year.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the measure on Wednesday. It targeted lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte and journalists Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the four were barred for their "participation in the harassment of Xenia Fedorova" and calls for her expulsion. France ordered Fedorova to leave in July.
Fedorova led RT France from 2017 to 2023. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described her as an "agent of influence." Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez accused her of relaying Russian propaganda when ordering her expulsion in July. France froze her assets. The European Union sanctioned her on Sept. 24 for destabilizing activities. She has since written for CNews, Europe 1 and Le JDNews.
Houlié, a member of Place publique, said on X that the ban was "recognition of my work against foreign interference in France." Delaporte of the Socialist Party called the sanction "particularly worrying." He urged France to react. Le Monde condemned the decision as a "new obstacle to freedom to inform." Paul Gogo expressed "total surprise." He said he had never called for Fedorova's expulsion.
Houlié had authored a parliamentary report on foreign interference. He helped pass a 2024 law against it. He also asked the Paris prosecutor to pursue Fedorova as a "Russian agent." Delaporte had questioned the government in June about Fedorova's residence permit. He called her a "destabilizing agent." Chemin had co-signed articles on Fedorova for Le Monde. Gogo, a former Moscow correspondent, left Russia in February 2026 after his visa was not renewed. He authored a book this year titled "Moscou parano."
Barrot said on X that by presenting the decision as a response to Fedorova's expulsion, Moscow confirmed its links with Russian authorities. Raphaël Glucksmann, a 2027 presidential candidate, wrote that being targeted by Putin's regime was "proof that you fight effectively for our country's interests." Russia has banned dozens of Western journalists and lawmakers since February 2022.
