The Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office charged former President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary Iuliia Mendel with treason in absentia on Nov. 3. The prosecution alleges that Mendel engaged in treason by conducting "information and subversive activities against Ukraine" and by "justifying the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war" through her public communications. Mendel, who served as Zelensky’s press secretary from 2019 to 2021 before becoming a vocal critic of the president, faces charges of treason committed under martial law. The specific legal charges include Mendel justifying, legitimizing, or denying Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. Because Mendel is currently abroad, the authorities filed these charges in absentia, which means the court must still prove her guilt. Zelensky previously imposed sanctions on Mendel on Sept. 13. This legal action follows a period where Mendel, having called Zelensky a "dictator," made various unconfirmed and misleading claims that echo Russian narratives. The agencies’ accusations focus on her recent activities that they claim promote the interests of the Kremlin regime, which they believe contradicts Ukrainian security.
Mendel disputes accusations
Mendel says the case relies on her public remarks in Western media and on social media regarding revelations of corruption in Zelensky’s inner circle, the absence of freedom of speech, and political persecution. "If there had been any collaboration with the Russians, that is exactly what they would have written… There is none," Mendel said. She added that the matter is one of freedom of speech. In May, Mendel appeared on the podcast of U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson, where she criticized Zelensky and called him "the main obstacle to peace" despite Russia’s refusal to end the war. This interview occurred four years after Mendel published a book praising Zelensky. In September, she spoke at a side event at the invitation of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party. AfD members have previously criticized military assistance to Ukraine and financial support for Ukrainian refugees. Mendel’s criticism follows her transition from a presidential spokesperson to a vocal adversary who questions the current administration. Her claims echo Russian narratives and involve unconfirmed and misleading statements about the president.
