Ukraine: Zelensky's former spokeswoman Yulia Mendel charged with treason

Volodymyr Zelensky's former spokeswoman, Yulia Mendel, is suspected of treason. The Ukrainian secret service SBU said on Telegram that it was carrying out “information and sabotage activities against Ukraine”. It also legitimizes and denies the Russian war of aggression against the country and damages its reputation. The public prosecutor's office and the SBU came to this conclusion after evaluating Mendel's public appearances and statements.

The 40-year-old, who worked for Zelensky from 2019 to 2021, repeatedly sharply criticizes the Ukrainian president and his actions in the war. The AfD recently invited her to an EU event. In an interview with the reactionary podcaster Tucker Carlson in the spring, Mendel claimed, among other things, that Ukraine was "on the verge of disappearing." Zelensky called her a "paranoid, malicious narcissist" and a coke-fueling dictator.

The prosecution argued that Mendel's statements were used for Russian propaganda. She wanted to give the impression that Ukraine no longer needed to be supported and that the country's leadership was the reason why there was no peace.

Mendel himself commented on the allegations on X. Zelensky has shown that she is right, she writes: This is about a restriction of freedom of expression. Because of the current martial law, she faces life imprisonment in her home country. Mendel currently lives abroad. “This is the price of freedom of expression and the pursuit of saving Ukraine during Zelensky’s time,” she continues.