Russia bans two French lawmakers and journalists over RT France harassment claims.

Moscow announced on Tuesday a ban preventing two French lawmakers and two journalists from entering the Russian Federation, citing allegations of systematic harassment against the former head of RT France. The targeted individuals include French parliamentarians Arthur Delaporte and Sacha Houlié, alongside investigative journalists Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the entry bans are a direct response to what Moscow describes as a prolonged campaign of pressure and targeted harassment directed at Xenia Fedorova, who headed the French branch of the Russian state-funded broadcaster between 2017 and 2023.

The diplomatic measure highlights the deeply strained relations between Moscow and Paris, which have deteriorated significantly since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. RT France, formerly known as Russia Today, operated in the country under intense scrutiny before its bank accounts were frozen and its operations effectively shut down following European Union sanctions on Russian state media outlets enacted in the wake of the 2022 invasion. Russian authorities have consistently condemned Western restrictions on state-backed media, framing them as violations of free speech, and have periodically retaliated by barring European politicians, diplomats, and journalists from entering Russian territory.

The inclusion of French lawmakers Arthur Delaporte and Sacha Houlié underscores the political dimension of the dispute, as European governments grapple with the influence of foreign state-controlled information operations. Lawmakers across the European Union have increasingly pushed for tighter regulatory frameworks to counter foreign interference, disinformation, and espionage. Conversely, Moscow maintains that its journalists and media executives face politically motivated persecution in Western nations, using travel bans and persona non grata designations to signal its displeasure with European legislative and judicial actions targeting Russian entities.

The targeted journalists, Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo, are well-known figures within French media circles, with extensive reporting records covering Eastern Europe and Russian foreign influence operations. Press freedom organizations and European governments have frequently criticized Moscow's use of entry bans and retaliatory sanctions against journalists and elected officials, viewing them as tools of intimidation designed to deter critical reporting and political oversight. As diplomatic channels remain heavily constricted, tit-for-tat travel restrictions have become a standard instrument in the ongoing diplomatic standoff between Russia and Western European capitals.