In brief
Moscow says the bans on two French lawmakers and two journalists respond to France's decision to expel former RT France chief Ksenia Fedorova.
Russia has barred French lawmakers Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, Le Monde journalist Ariane Chemin and journalist Paul Gogo from entering the country, LIGA.net reported, citing Le Monde and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The cited report did not specify when the bans took effect or how long they would last.
Zakharova alleged that the four had participated in persecuting Fedorova and called for her expulsion. According to LIGA.net, Houlié works on foreign interference in France, Chemin investigated Fedorova's activities in French media, and Gogo previously worked in Russia.
Fedorova formerly headed RT France. LIGA.net said French authorities decided in July to expel her and revoke her residence permit and right to work in the country; the report did not specify the year of that decision.
Houlié told Le Monde he viewed the ban as recognition of his work's effectiveness. Delaporte called it an attempt to intimidate French democracy and urged Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to respond diplomatically. Le Monde's editorial staff condemned the bans as another obstruction of journalistic freedom.
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