EU imposes sanctions on former RT France executive Ksenia Fedorova

On September 24, 2026, European Union member states reached an agreement to impose sanctions on Ksenia Fedorova, the former head of the French branch of the Russian state-owned television network Russia Today (RT). The EU justifies the decision by citing her role in spreading disinformation and promoting pro-Russian narratives concerning the conflict in Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the move, noting that France had already deported Fedorova and frozen her assets in June 2026.

Fedorova previously led RT France until the network was banned across all EU member states. Following the closure of RT France, she transitioned to the French television station CNews. In early September, CNews announced her return to radio broadcasting, a move that drew further scrutiny. The Kremlin has officially condemned the EU sanctions, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing the measures as illegal and a clear violation of press freedom, framing them as a targeted persecution of media representatives.

This development occurs amidst ongoing international concerns regarding press freedom in Russia. Western human rights organizations claim that Moscow has intensified its crackdown on dissenting voices since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, approximately 30 media workers are currently imprisoned in Russia, while the Kremlin maintains that its censorship policies are necessary measures during wartime.