أوكل Ukraine former presidential spokesperson Yu Liya Mendel of treason and justifying Russia's aggression
Ukrainian prosecutors and security investigators notified former presidential spokesperson Yu Liya Mendel in absentia of suspicion of state treason and justifying Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. The case concerns her statements in foreign media and social networks, which investigators say discriminated against Ukraine internationally and were used in Russian propaganda. Mendel denies cooperating with Russia and says the suspicion stems from her criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky's circle and concerns about freedom of speech and political persecution.
أبرز النقاط
- The notification was announced on 3 November 2026 while Mendel was outside Ukraine.
- The allegations concern part 2 of Article 111 and parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.
- The investigation is conducted by investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine's Main Investigation Department under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
- Investigators say her public statements and social-media posts discriminated against Ukraine internationally and justified the Kremlin regime and Russia's full-scale war.
- The case relies on statements in foreign media and social networks, including an interview with Tucker Carlson and posts on Facebook.
- Mendel denies cooperation with Russia and says the suspicion was triggered by her criticism of Zelensky's circle and concerns about freedom of speech and political persecution in Ukraine.
- Zelensky imposed personal sanctions against Mendel on 13 September, including restrictions on access from Ukraine to her Instagram, X and Facebook pages.
لماذا يهمّ ذلك
The case alleges that public communications and foreign-media appearances were used to weaken 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 further accountability measures are ongoing. Mendel says the potential punishment under the state-treason charge ranges from 15 years in prison to life imprisonment.
ماذا حدث
The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General notified former presidential spokesperson Yu Liya Mendel in absentia of suspicion of state treason and justification of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Investigators from the Security Service's Main Investigation Department are handling the case under the Prosecutor General's procedural supervision. The allegations are based on her statements in foreign media and social networks, including comments about Ukraine's democratic freedoms, criticism of the president's circle and mobilization, and posts made on Facebook. Investigators say the materials discriminated against Ukraine internationally, justified the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war, were used in Russian propaganda, and were intended to undermine support for Ukraine and weaken public confidence at home. Court experts found signs of destructive informational-psychological influence in the statements reviewed.
كيف تصفه المصادر الأوكرانية
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 secure accountability. It also highlights the alleged international-discordination effects of Mendel's statements, their use in Russian propaganda, her criticism of Zelensky, and the sanctions imposed against her.
أين تختلف الروايات
Ukrainian authorities characterize Mendel's foreign-media statements and social-media posts as assistance to Russia's subversive activity against Ukraine. Mendel denies cooperation with Russia and argues that the suspicion resulted from her criticism of the president's circle, statements about the absence of freedom of speech, and political persecution in Ukraine.
الخلفية
Mendel served as President Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary from June 2019 to July 2021. The investigation relies on statements in foreign media and social networks, including interviews with Tucker Carlson and posts on Facebook. In August 2026, she gave an interview to Le Journal du Dimanche, while her Tucker Carlson interview took place in May 2026. Zelensky imposed personal sanctions against her on 13 September, including restrictions on access from Ukraine to her Instagram, X and Facebook pages.