French broadcaster faces backlash over Lavrov interview

Paris— France 2 faced sharp criticism on Friday after airing a prime-time interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with officials and analysts accusing the broadcaster of providing a platform for Kremlin messaging amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The channel broadcast a 10-minute segment of the pre-recorded interview during its Thursday evening news, while publishing the full hour-long exchange online.

Ukraine’s ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, questioned the decision on social media, asking why a “war criminal” had been given airtime.

Researcher Etienne Marcuz described the interview as “disgraceful,” saying a senior official from an opposing power had been allowed to present his narrative without sufficient challenge.

Russia specialist Dimitri Minic called the broadcast “catastrophic,” warning that Moscow treats information as a central instrument in its confrontation with Western states.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he regretted that Lavrov had been able to “calmly roll out his propaganda,” rejecting claims made during the interview that Russia was upholding international law.

“No, Russia is not defending international law not in Iran, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else,” Barrot said, citing incidents including civilian killings in Bucha and the destruction of Mariupol in 2022.

During the broadcast, Lavrov defended Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, asserting that Russian forces did not target civilians and framing Russia’s actions as consistent with international law.

He also criticized U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, saying they violated international norms.Presenter Lea Salame noted during the exchange that French journalists had documented civilian casualties in Ukraine.

The controversy comes as diplomatic efforts led by the United States to resolve the conflict in Ukraine have been complicated by escalating tensions in the Middle East.