◆2 sources
Russia barred two French parliamentarians and two French journalists from entering the country in response to European measures against Russian media figure Xenia Fedorova. The EU had placed Fedorova on a sanctions list over alleged involvement in Russia’s hybrid activities and the spread of Russian propaganda.
Fedorova was expelled from France in July, where she had headed the French branch of Russia Today.
2 sources
A French parliamentary culture and education committee rejected a petition calling for action against the news channel CNews, meaning it will not lead to a parliamentary debate. The petition, which had collected more than 1 million signatures, accused the channel of functioning as a propaganda outlet for radical and far-right figures and called for it to be taken off the air. The committee voted 28 to 25 against the petition after reportedly heated discussions. Right-wing groups, including Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, opposed it, while La France Insoumise and the Greens supported a debate. CNews has previously been sanctioned by the media regulator Arcom over remarks deemed hateful or racist; the channel rejects accusations that it promotes hatred and says it defends freedom of expression. The committee chair called for a broader debate on press freedom and media regulation, and a member of parliament may still seek such a debate within eight days.