The Paris Administrative Court on Monday rejected an urgent appeal filed by pro-Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova against her expulsion from French territory and the freezing of her assets, ruling that she failed to demonstrate a situation of “extreme urgency.”
Court Cites Lack of Urgency in Ruling
Fedorova, who has been under house arrest since Wednesday, did not demonstrate “any need to leave the Paris area,” nor did she “request any authorization from the police prefect,” the court stated in a press release. Her claim that the mandatory check-in requirement caused her “discomfort” was deemed insufficiently detailed, leading the judge to conclude that “the condition of extreme urgency could not be retained.”
Accusations of Disinformation Campaigns
The commentator, who primarily appears on CNews, Europe 1, and the weekly publication JDNews, was accused last week of acting as “a relay for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities” aimed at “destabilizing public order” in France. The expulsion and asset freeze orders were issued as part of these allegations.
Lawyer Expresses Regret, Vows to Continue Fight
Fedorova’s lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, expressed his “very great regret” over the decision in comments to AFP, stating that he would “continue to contest the decisions.”
The court noted that Fedorova had a choice between two legal procedures: a standard suspension appeal requiring demonstration of urgency, or the expedited “liberté” procedure requiring proof of extreme urgency justifying action within 48 hours. She opted for the latter, but the court found her arguments insufficient.
Government Officials Cite Kremlin Propaganda Concerns
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had previously cited “numerous statements she has made that systematically echo Kremlin propaganda regarding France’s engagement, the situation in Ukraine, and the motivations behind Russia’s aggression in Ukraine” as justification for the expulsion order. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had also described the Russian citizen as an “influence agent.”
The asset freeze was designed to prevent “new acts of interference,” according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, by blocking the use of “funds or economic resources for the benefit of this person and any legal entities or other entities she controls,, or that knowingly act on her behalf.”
The court clarified that Monday’s rejection “does not prevent Ms. Fedorova from filing a new appeal with the liberties judge, provided she details the specific circumstances of her situation, nor from filing a standard suspension appeal.”
