Russia Revokes Accreditation of Le Monde Journalist in Retaliatory Move

Moscow cites France's refusal to issue visas for Russian journalists as the reason for barring Benjamin Quénelle after two decades of reporting from Russia.

Russian authorities have revoked the press accreditation of Benjamin Quénelle, Le Monde's long-time Moscow correspondent, effectively expelling him from the country.
This marks the first time in nearly 70 years that Le Monde has been barred from maintaining a correspondent in Russia, disrupting its direct coverage of the nation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated the decision was a retaliatory measure after France denied visas to journalists from Komsomolskaya Pravda, whom France alleged were linked to Russian intelligence services.
Le Monde has condemned the move as an attack on press freedom, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the ban even compared to Cold War-era tensions.
Russian officials indicated Quénelle's accreditation could be reinstated if France reverses its stance on issuing visas to Russian journalists.