SBU charges former Zelensky press secretary Mendel with treason in absentia

The Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office have charged former presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel with treason in absentia.

This was reported by the SBU press service.

According to the agency, the charge was filed for “information-subversive activity against Ukraine” under Part 2 of Article 111 (treason committed under martial law) and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office established that “in her public statements and social media posts, Mendel discredits Ukraine on the international arena, and also justifies the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war it launched against our state.”

Both bodies are carrying out “comprehensive measures” to hold her accountable. Mendel is currently outside Ukraine — the agency said it is continuing measures to hold her accountable.

Mendel later commented on the announcement of the treason charge against her. She stated that this charge proves she does not cooperate with the Russians, since it says not a word about that.

“The basis for this charge was my public appearances in Western media and posts on social media — in particular, those concerning the exposure of corruption in Zelensky’s circle, the lack of freedom of speech and political persecutions. In fact, by filing this charge, Zelensky proved that I am right,” wrote Zelensky’s former press secretary.

“Under martial law, treason charges carry a penalty of 15 years in prison to life imprisonment. That is the price of freedom of speech and the desire to save Ukraine in Zelensky’s times,” Mendel added.

In September, President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions against Mendel. At the time, the former presidential press secretary linked the imposition of sanctions to the fact that she had a scheduled appearance at the European Parliament.

Before that, after revelations in an interview with Carlson about Zelensky’s drug addiction, Yulia Mendel was added to “Myrotvorets.”