This loud political and media scandal emerged following a surge in pro-Russian activity and new moves by Fedorova herself in the French information space.
According to the leading French publication Le Parisien, the former director of RT France "has very close ties with French billionaire and media mogul Vincent Bolloré". According to our sources in Paris, this phrasing conceals the delicate nature of such an intimate relationship — in short, it is becoming clear to everyone that the Kremlin deployed its usual weapon against the French billionaire: sex.
Let's break it all down.
Infiltrating the Bolloré Media Empire
After RT France was shut down in 2023 due to European sanctions, Fedorova remained in France and officially integrated herself into the media outlets of right-wing conservative French billionaire Vincent Bolloré:
- She regularly appears on CNews and radio Europe 1 as an "international affairs expert".
- She hosts a weekly programme on CNews called "The Radiance of Orthodoxy" (L'Éclat de l'orthodoxie).
- She is a weekly columnist for JDNews (a supplement of Journal du Dimanche).
Promoting Kremlin Narratives
French and international media — including major investigations by Politico, Le Monde and RFI published in late May 2026 — document that Fedorova is openly using French airwaves to spread Russian disinformation. On air, she promotes the idea that "Russia seeks peace" and that the US, NATO and Europe are to blame for the continuation of the war. In her JDNews columns she went even further — calling the deportation of Ukrainian children by occupation forces a "legend".
Influence on Personnel Decisions and Internal Scandals
According to investigations, Fedorova has gained significant influence within the Bolloré media group and brought part of the former RT France team with her. One revealing incident made headlines: French General Bruno Clermont, a military expert on CNews, was fired from the channel after making critical remarks about Russia — because it "outraged Xenia Fedorova".
Regulatory Reactions and Protests
Fedorova's activities have provoked outrage among French politicians and activists:
- Complaint to Arcom: Renew coalition MEP group leader Valérie Hayer formally approached the French media regulator demanding an investigation into the propagandistic statements broadcast on CNews and Europe 1.
- Street protests: On 3 June 2026, a rally against Fedorova's activities was held outside the CNews offices in Paris — human rights and pro-Ukrainian movements accused her of directly supporting the war and broadcasting Kremlin propaganda.
- Residence permit debate: Discussions intensified in French media and the Senate over whether it is appropriate to renew her long-term residence permit (titre de séjour) given that her activities pose a threat to the country's information security.
Despite numerous complaints, French authorities currently have limited legal tools — no direct evidence of official Russian government funding after 2023 has yet been made public, and the Bolloré group shields her under "freedom of speech". Yet the pressure on Arcom and channel management grows daily.
A Book as the Catalyst of the Scandal
One of the main catalysts of the scandal is Fedorova's book "Bannie. Liberté d'expression sous condition" ("Banished. Freedom of Speech with Conditions"), published by the prestigious French publisher Fayard — which also belongs to the Lagardère conglomerate, controlled by the same Bolloré. The appearance of the book at such a large and established publisher caused serious concern in French intellectual circles: a propagandist had been given a prestigious platform.
The book is structured as an autobiography and a manifesto of a "censorship victim":
- Defence of RT France: Fedorova claims the channel provided "a plurality of opinions" and an "alternative perspective" that France allegedly lacked.
- Attack on French democracy: The closure of the channel following the start of the full-scale invasion is described as "an act of political censorship" and "the burial of freedom of speech" by the Macron government.
- "Victim" posture: She portrays herself as an independent journalist under pressure due to "Russophobia", completely concealing the fact that RT was directly funded and directed from Moscow to wage an information war.
French investigative journalists and analysts have called the publication "a classic example of Kremlin soft power" and an attempt to legitimise Russian narratives at the heart of Paris. Critics are blunt: through this autobiography, Fedorova is trying to integrate into French society as a "dissident" in order to protect herself from deportation or sanctions. It was precisely the aggressive promotion of the book on Europe 1 and CNews that drove MEPs and activists to protest.
Macron Intervenes Personally
On 4 June 2026, President Emmanuel Macron personally and very harshly commented on the scandal — his statement appeared in the pages of Le Monde and Le Figaro.
"Xenia Fedorova was and remains the head of a structure that is the state propaganda agency of the Russian Federation"
— Emmanuel Macron, President of France, 4 June 2026
The French president stressed that her current activities on French airwaves are an obvious continuation of her work for the Kremlin. Two key points:
- Consistency of warnings: Macron recalled that as far back as 2017 he publicly called RT France "an instrument of influence and propaganda" — and today's situation only confirms those warnings.
- Signal to Bolloré: The statement was made the day after the rally outside CNews — Macron effectively accused the group of providing a platform to "state propaganda" of an aggressor nation under the guise of freedom of speech.
This intervention fundamentally changes the rules of the game. The media regulator Arcom, which could previously have spent years processing MEP complaints, is now under direct pressure from the Élysée. A significantly harsher and faster response regarding Fedorova's activities on CNews and Europe 1 is expected.
Follow our updates — we will keep our finger on the pulse.
Oksana Melnychuk, special correspondent, France
