Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have notified in absentia former press secretary of Volodymyr Zelensky, Yuliia Mendel, of suspicion. According to the agencies, she is conducting information-sabotage activities against Ukraine, for which she faces liability under the article on state treason. Previously, the ex-staffer of the President’s Office repeatedly criticized the authorities and spoke from pro-Russian positions. Investigators are now establishing the circumstances for bringing Mendel to account, since she is abroad.
Mendel was notified of suspicion under part 2 of article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — state treason committed under martial law — as well as under parts 2 and 3 of articles 436-2 — justification, recognition as lawful and denial of the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine, and glorification of its participants. This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine on its Telegram channel.
Based on comprehensive measures and examinations, the SBU established that in her public statements and social media posts Mendel discredits Ukraine on the international stage, and also justifies the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war it initiated against our state. Since the person of interest is outside Ukraine, law enforcement continues comprehensive measures to bring her to account.
The investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the SBU under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General. The agency reminded that pursuant to the first part of article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.
A prolonged confrontation with the President’s Office preceded the notification of suspicion
Yuliia Mendel was Volodymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson at the start of his presidency, and later went into opposition to the former leadership and repeatedly publicly criticized both the president himself and his inner circle. She also spoke on international platforms about peace negotiations with Russia, which caused resonance in Ukraine.
Informator previously reported that after a high-profile interview with Tucker Carlson, Zelensky imposed sanctions against Mendel, and she in response called the restrictions unconstitutional and said they would not change her position. We also wrote that 16 September, a few hours before a scheduled appearance, Mendel was not allowed into the European Parliament building, and she linked this to the president’s sanctions. In addition, Informator wrote that 18 September Mendel nonetheless spoke to the European Parliament via video link and accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war with Russia.
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