Russian columnist Xenia Fedorova will return to French television network CNews via video link from abroad following her expulsion from France, the channel announced.
Show host Gauthier Le Bret made the announcement on Wednesday evening before concluding the broadcast, stating that legal advisors at network parent Canal+ determined that Fedorova is permitted to contribute remotely.
A graphic displayed on screen during the broadcast showed Fedorova's face alongside text asking whether she would return to the program L'Heure inter, while Le Bret noted that French government measures prevented her physical presence in the country.
Le Bret told viewers that Fedorova would be able to return very soon to deliver her analysis and expertise remotely because the French government prevents her from being in France.
Legal challenges and court decisions
Fedorova is currently located abroad following the administrative expulsion order and an asset freeze issued by the French Ministry of the Interior slightly more than a month ago.
The decision by CNews to broadcast her remotely comes after multiple attempts to suspend the government enforcement measures failed in court.
On August 14, the Paris Administrative Court rejected her emergency petition for a suspension of the expulsion order, ruling that the legal requirement of urgency had not been satisfied.
The administrative judges did not issue a ruling on the ultimate legality of the expulsion order itself, leaving the substantive legal appeal filed alongside the emergency petition to be judged at a later date.
An earlier emergency petition seeking protection under fundamental liberties procedures was rejected by the court on August 3, when judges concluded that the required criteria of extreme urgency could not be met.
Her lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, publicly criticized the administrative actions taken against her, describing the government measures as illegal and disproportionate.
Disinformation allegations and media background
French authorities have accused the 45-year-old commentator of serving as a relay for disinformation campaigns directed by Russian authorities to destabilize public order in France.
Fedorova previously served as the head of RT France, the French branch of Russian state-backed network Russia Today, prior to European Union bans on the broadcaster following the invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to her work for CNews, Fedorova has regularly contributed commentary to French radio network Europe 1 and print publication Le JDNews.
CNews is a major French 24-hour news network owned by the Canal+ Group, which reviewed the legal terms of the government order before approving her remote appearances.
The substantive court appeal regarding the legality of her expulsion order remains pending before the Paris Administrative Court and is scheduled to be heard at a later date.
