Russia Expels "Le Monde" Correspondent in Retaliation for France's Visa Refusal

For the first time since 1957, French news outlet Le Monde has been prevented from maintaining a correspondent in Moscow, the publication itself announced on February 6.

The French Newspaper stated, “After initially having had his press accreditation suspended four months ago, our journalist Benjamin Quénelle has just been notified by the Russian authorities of the cancelation of this document, which effectively prohibits him from exercising his profession as a correspondent in the Russian capital and throughout the country.”

Russian authorities have now officially revoked Quénelle’s press accreditation, effectively barring him from working as a correspondent in the capital and across the country. Quénelle has worked in Russia for over 20 years.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this action is a retaliatory measure following France’s refusal to grant press visas to individuals proposed as Komsomolskaya Pravda journalists.

The French Foreign Ministry maintains that the individuals were not journalists but operatives of Russian intelligence services.

This decision is the latest in a series of restrictions on foreign press access in Russia. Le Monde has maintained a presence in Moscow since 1957, even throughout the Cold War, conducting investigative journalism and reporting on political, economic, and social developments.

In recent years, international media organizations have faced increasing restrictions in Russia. In 2024, Spanish journalist Xavier Colás of El Mundo was expelled after covering protests by the wives of Russian military personnel.

That same year, Russia banned 92 US citizens, including journalists from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph, citing US policies on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

In a report released on February 6 by Reporters Without Borders, it’s been stated that for over a year, the Kremlin-funded website International Reporters has operated under the guise of a legitimate news outlet, disseminating Russian disinformation. The platform promotes narratives supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and aligning with Kremlin foreign policy.