Charges of “high treason” against Zelensky’s former spokeswoman

The Ukrainian Public Prosecution announced, on Tuesday, that the former spokeswoman for the Ukrainian president, Yulia Mendel, has been charged with “high treason,” who in recent years has become one of the most prominent figures criticizing him, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

Mendel (40 years old) served as Zelensky's spokeswoman between 2019 and 2021, during the first years of his assumption of power. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Mendel has increased her public criticism of the Ukrainian president, accusing him of corruption and increasing authoritarianism.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office said via the Telegram application, “Public prosecutors... collected sufficient evidence to inform the former media official of the Ukrainian president that she is a suspect in a case of high treason and to justify the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.”

He added, "Mendel is accused of exploiting her fame and experience...to publish statements supportive of the aggressor state, with the aim of distorting the image of Ukraine."

Investigators take Mendel in particular for her statement that “there is no freedom of expression” in Ukraine, and that the country is moving “towards extinction.” They also accuse her of talking about people she says “make fortunes from continuing the war,” and of her referring to “political favoritism” and “persecution of opponents” in Ukraine.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, these statements fall within “speech in Russia’s interest,” which would “reinforce the disappointment and frustration of Ukrainian society.”

Mendel denied these accusations in a message via Telegram, noting that the wording of the accusation “proves that she is right.”

She added: “This is the price of freedom of expression and trying to save Ukraine under Zelensky’s regime.”

Last September, Zelensky imposed sanctions on Mendel, who is currently residing outside the country.

Mendel previously praised Zelensky, but she changed her position on him in recent years, accusing him of being “the biggest beneficiary of the war” and “one of the most prominent obstacles to peace.”