Russia Bans French Journalists and Two Lawmakers from Entering Its Territory, Sparking Outcry from Parisian Newspapers

Major French media outlets, led by "Le Monde" and "Ouest-France", condemned on Wednesday, November 11, the Russian authorities' decision to ban French journalists from entering its territory, describing the move as a new and dangerous obstacle threatening the freedom of journalism and the reporting of information.

The Russian decision targeted senior "Le Monde" reporter Ariane Chemin and freelance journalist Paul Gogo, in addition to French National Assembly lawmakers Sacha Houlié (Place Publique) and Arthur Delaporte (Socialist Party). This Russian measure came as a direct response to decisions taken by Paris in late July to expel commentator Ksenia Fedorova and freeze her assets on charges of promoting Kremlin propaganda on French soil, before the European Union announced in September the freezing of her funds and a travel ban within the bloc's member states.

French Condemnation and Defense of Media Independence

In a statement published on its website, "Le Monde" expressed its condemnation in the strongest terms of the Russian decision, affirming its full support for its reporter Ariane Chemin, who fulfilled her professional duty through documented investigations that exposed the propaganda activities of Vladimir Putin's regime in France and monitored developments in the Ukraine war. This move marks a new chapter of restrictions against the French newspaper, as its Moscow correspondent, Benjamin Quénelle, was previously forced to leave the country in early 2025 after his press accreditation was revoked.

For its part, the management of "Ouest-France" strongly denounced the decision. François-Xavier Lefranc, chairman of the newspaper's management board, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that such decisions come as no surprise when issued by a totalitarian regime, stressing the need for the political class to act to defend media freedom because "there is no democracy without a press."

Mounting Pressure on Journalists

Meanwhile, journalist Paul Gogo—who left Russia after nine years of work following the authorities' refusal to renew his visa—expressed his shock over the decision, for which he received no prior notification. Gogo, who also writes for "La Libre Belgique", published a book last March titled "Moscou Parano", in which he documented the difficult atmosphere and the impossibility of practicing independent journalism in Russia during wartime.