Russia retaliates against France, banning lawmakers and journalists in tit-for-tat sanctions

Russia has imposed a ban on two French lawmakers and two French journalists, a move described as a reciprocal measure following France's earlier expulsion of a pro-Kremlin media commentator. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced on Wednesday that lawmakers Sacha Houlie and Arthur Delaporte, along with journalists Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin, are now prohibited from entering Russia. Zakharova stated that this ban is in retaliation for the alleged "harassment" of Xenia Fedorova, who led RT France from 2017 to 2023. Earlier in July, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had labeled Fedorova an "agent of influence" and ordered her expulsion. Fedorova, who contributed to right-wing French media, decried the action as "censorship," while Moscow had for months signaled its intent to respond to what it termed "persecution." At the time of her expulsion in July, France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez had accused Fedorova of disseminating Russian propaganda aimed at undermining "the fundamental interests of the nation." Moscow has frequently expressed frustration with European restrictions placed on its state-backed media and journalists, whom Brussels and several EU member states have identified as Kremlin mouthpieces. In a post on the social media platform X, French lawmaker Sacha Houlie commented that the sanction "strikes me as recognition of my work against foreign interference in France." He further elaborated on his efforts, referencing his report for the Parliamentary Intelligence Delegation and the law passed in 2024 to prevent interference, as well as securing Fedorova's expulsion. This action by Russia follows a pattern, as the country has banned numerous Western journalists and lawmakers from entering since the commencement of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.