Russia accuses France of ‘silencing dissent’ over journalist expulsion

Russia has accused France of suppressing freedom of expression, after French authorities ordered the expulsion of pro-Kremlin Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova and froze her assets.

Russian Foreign Ministry officials on Thursday condemned what they called the “political persecution of journalists based on false accusations”, saying the measures taken against Fedorova contradicted France’s stated commitment to free speech.

“Such actions are incompatible with France’s rhetoric regarding its commitment to the principles of freedom of expression,” deputy Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexei Fadeev said in Moscow.

Fadeev accused French authorities of branding dissenting views as Russian propaganda and attempting to force out journalists and media organisations whose positions did not conform with the official line.

He also criticised what he described as the French leadership’s persistent efforts to blame Russia for the country’s domestic problems.

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