ROME — Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the French-language Russian outlet RT France, left France in July after authorities ordered her expulsion. She is now reported to be in Italy, with indications that she may be staying in the Tuscan resort of Forte dei Marmi.
Why it matters: The case highlights the cross-border challenge European governments face in dealing with individuals accused of participating in Russian information operations.
- French authorities accused Fedorova of being involved in disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing public order.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described her as a “Russian propaganda agent”.
- Her departure followed years of scrutiny in France, including a previous legal case that ultimately ended in her acquittal.
- There is no indication in the material that Fedorova is accused of wrongdoing in Italy.
Zoom in: Vacanze Romane. Fedorova reportedly left France more than a month ago but did not return to Russia.
- According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, she is believed to have entered Italy through the French-Italian border near Nice and may have traveled to Forte dei Marmi, a seaside town in Tuscany.
- The location would not be entirely unfamiliar to her. Fedorova is reported to have frequented the resort in the past, although she was not known to have spent time there regularly.
- Her movements in Italy have attracted attention from French media, but there are no reports of contact with Italian professionals or representatives.
The French case. Fedorova was formally notified of her expulsion order in early July.
- She initially described herself as “on the run” and continued presenting herself as the victim of a political campaign against her. She remains active on social media despite the closure of RT France.
- On July 27, her residence permit was withdrawn and she was ordered to leave French territory.
- The measures reportedly extended beyond immigration status: her bank accounts in France were frozen, restricting her access to financial resources.
- Fedorova has appealed to French administrative courts.
The backstory. Her confrontation with French authorities predates the latest expulsion.
- In 2017, Fedorova was implicated in a case involving an alleged unauthorized presence in a control room at the Palace of Versailles. She was later acquitted.
- The current dispute, however, centers on the French government’s assessment of her role in Russian information activities.
What to watch: The key question now is whether Fedorova remains in Italy and whether her presence attracts any attention from Italian authorities.
The bottom line: France has removed a figure it considers part of Russia’s propaganda ecosystem. Her reported arrival in Italy illustrates a wider European vulnerability: national measures against alleged influence operations do not necessarily prevent the people involved from relocating elsewhere inside Europe.
