In brief

• Russia has banned two French deputies, Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, and two French journalists, Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin of Le Monde, from entering the country.
• Moscow presents the ban as a response to France's expulsion of pro-Kremlin commentator Xenia Fedorova earlier this year.
• Several governments and organisations have condemned the move, which Le Monde describes as a further deterioration in Paris-Moscow relations.

Russia announces entry ban on French officials and journalists

Russia has barred two French members of parliament and two French journalists from entering its territory, Moscow said on Wednesday. The foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, named the deputies as Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, and the reporters as Paul Gogo and Ariane Chemin (Russia bans two French lawmakers and two journalists from entry – France 24) (La Russie interdit l’entrée sur son territoire à deux députés et deux journalistes français, après l’expulsion de Xenia Fedorova – Le Monde).

Retaliation for an earlier expulsion

The measure is a response to France's decision earlier this year to expel Xenia Fedorova, a pro-Kremlin television commentator and former head of RT France. French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot had described her as an influence agent, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez ordered her removal in July, accusing her of spreading Russian propaganda aimed at France's basic national interests. Fedorova has denounced the expulsion as censorship and wants to return to French screens.

Moscow's broader grievance

Russia has long objected to European restrictions on state-backed media and their journalists, which Brussels and several EU members describe as mouthpieces of the Kremlin. Moscow had signalled for months that it would respond to what it called the persecution of Fedorova (Odveta za vyhostenie tváre ruskej propagandy. Kremeľ zakázal vstup štyrom Francúzom – Aktuality.sk).

Reaction

The episode has drawn condemnation in France and elsewhere, according to live coverage from Le Monde, which framed the move as a further deterioration in relations between Paris and Moscow (Quatre journalistes et députés français interdits de séjour en Russie, une nouvelle étape dans la dégradation des relations entre Paris et Moscou – Le Monde) (EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : les condamnations se multiplient après que la Russie a interdit l’entrée sur son territoire à deux députés et deux journalistes français, dont Ariane Chemin, du « Monde » – Le Monde). Reports say the ban adds to a growing list of people Russia considers unwelcome, which now includes the two deputies and the two reporters.