former Ukrainian presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel notified in absentia of state treason charges
Ukrainian prosecutors and security investigators have notified former presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel, who is outside Ukraine, of suspicion of state treason and justification of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The investigation relies on her statements in foreign media and social networks, which prosecutors say discriminated against Ukraine and were used in Russian propaganda. Mendel denies cooperating with Russia and says the case stems from her criticism of the president’s circle and concerns about freedom of speech and political persecution in Ukraine.
핵심 요약
- The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General notified Mendel of suspicion in absentia on 3 November 2026.
- She is suspected under Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code on state treason and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 on justifying or denying Russia’s armed aggression and glorifying its participants.
- The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the SBU’s Main Investigation Department under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
- The case draws on Mendel’s statements in foreign media and social networks, including an interview with Tucker Carlson and posts on Facebook.
- Court experts found signs of destructive informational-psychological influence and violations of Ukraine’s information-security foundations in the statements under review.
- Mendel was Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary from June 2019 to July 2021.
- Zelensky imposed personal sanctions against Mendel on 13 September, including restrictions on access from Ukraine to her Instagram, X and Facebook pages.
왜 중요한가
The case concerns allegations that public communications and foreign-media appearances were used to undermine Ukraine’s international support and justify Russia’s war. Court experts identified signs of destructive informational-psychological influence and violations of Ukraine’s information-security foundations. Because Mendel is outside Ukraine, the notification was issued in absentia and measures to hold her accountable are continuing. According to Mendel, the potential punishment for state treason in wartime ranges from 15 years in prison to life imprisonment.
무슨 일이 있었나
On 3 November, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General notified former presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel in absentia of suspicion of state treason and justification of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. Mendel is suspected under Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2, which covers justification or denial of armed aggression against Ukraine and glorification of its participants. Investigators are relying on Mendel’s public statements in foreign media and social networks, including an interview with Tucker Carlson and Facebook posts. According to the authorities, her statements discriminated against Ukraine internationally, justified the Kremlin regime and Russia’s full-scale invasion, and were reused in Russian state and pro-Kremlin propaganda. The prosecution believes the material was intended to weaken Ukraine’s international support, portray its leadership as an obstacle to peace, and increase discouragement and demoralization within the country. Mendel denies cooperating with Russia and says the case is a consequence of her criticism of the president’s circle and her concerns about freedom of speech and political persecution in Ukraine.
우크라이나 매체의 시각
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the legal notification, the relevant Criminal Code provisions, the roles of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the continuing measures to hold Mendel accountable. Reports also emphasize the alleged effects of her statements on Ukraine’s international image and their use in Russian propaganda, while contextualizing the case through her criticism of President Zelensky and the sanctions imposed against her.
보도가 엇갈리는 지점
The authorities characterize Mendel’s foreign-media statements and social-media posts as assistance to Russian subversive activity. Mendel denies cooperation with Russia and argues that the suspicion was prompted by her criticism of the president’s circle, statements about the absence of freedom of speech and political persecution in Ukraine.
배경
Yulia Mendel served as Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary from June 2019 to July 2021. The investigation relies on statements she made in foreign media and social networks, including interviews with Tucker Carlson and posts on Facebook. On 13 September, Zelensky imposed personal sanctions against Mendel, including restrictions on access from Ukraine to her Instagram, X and Facebook pages. The case was announced on 3 November while Mendel was outside Ukraine.