Boris Nadezhdin, anti-war candidate in Russia, flees to France

A Paris court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Russian television commentator Xenia Fedorova against an order to leave France after authorities accused her of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.

The former RT France chief was a regular commentator on media platforms owned by conservative French billionaire Vincent Bolloré — including CNews and Europe 1 — where her Russia-friendly views on Ukraine, NATO and European security had come under growing scrutiny ahead of the country’s 2027 presidential election.

The video, published on Nadezhdin’s Telegram channel, comes after the anti-war politician was fined 1,000 rubles ($13) in July for displaying “extremist” symbols.

On 10 July, shortly after he submitted his campaign documents, Russia's Justice Ministry declared him a “foreign agent”, barring him from running for office.