Russia expels Le Monde journalist in press freedom attack
The French newspaper Le Monde has denounced the covert expulsion of its Moscow correspondent, Benjamin Quénelle, after Russian authorities revoked his press accreditation without providing any valid justification.
In an editorial published on Thursday, February 6, Le Monde’s director, Jérôme Fenoglio, condemned the move as unprecedented, marking the first time since 1957 that the newspaper has been prevented from maintaining a correspondent in Moscow.
“Even during the most tense moments of the Cold War, Le Monde continued its work in Moscow and beyond, conducting investigations and reporting on the realities and complexities of this vast country-continent,” Fenoglio wrote in a bilingual statement in French and Russian.
He further explained that the decision was a retaliatory measure, following France’s refusal to grant visas to supposed journalists from Komsomolskaya Pravda, a publication known for its close ties to the Kremlin. According to French authorities, these individuals were in fact Russian intelligence operatives.
For years, foreign journalists in Russia have faced increasingly difficult working conditions, while independent Russian reporters have been threatened, persecuted, and forced into exile.
The revocation of Quénelle’s accreditation, Le Monde argues, is yet another example of Moscow’s authoritarian approach to the press, as the Kremlin tightens its grip on independent journalism and restricts the fundamental right of reporters to inform the public.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
