SBU and Prosecutor General's Office suspect Yulia Mendel of high treason in absentia

In absentia notification of suspicion to former press secretary

The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have notified Yulia Mendel of suspicion in absentia. Her activities are classified as information-sabotage directed against the state. According to the investigation, the suspect used her public profile and experience in state communications to spread narratives that serve the interests of the aggressor state. These actions were aimed at discrediting Ukraine and weakening its international support.

Evidence contained in the case materials

The basis for the suspicion is Mendel's public statements in foreign media and social networks. In particular, the investigation focused on her interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. In it, she stated: «Я вірю, що Україна на межі зникнення» (I believe that Ukraine is on the brink of disappearance), as well as «Бачите, моя нація деградує» (See, my nation is degrading).

In addition, in public appearances, she claimed that Ukraine lacks democracy and freedom of speech, emphasising: «Немає свободи слова» (There is no freedom of speech). Mendel also noted: «Країна повна заборон. Все заборонено» (The country is full of prohibitions. Everything is prohibited), comparing the current situation in the state with the times of the Soviet Union.

On the Facebook network, the suspect spread claims regarding the alleged benefit from continuing the war, the presence of political patronage, the conduct of propaganda, and the persecution of dissidents. Russian state and pro-Kremlin media actively cited these and other of her statements in their own propagandistic materials.

Conclusions of judicial expert examinations

Within the framework of the investigation, judicial expert examinations were conducted. Specialists identified signs of destructive information-psychological influence in the former press secretary's statements. It was established that her statements contain signs of violation of the fundamentals of national security in the information sphere.

Experts concluded that such influence is aimed at causing harm to the state and information security of Ukraine. According to their data, this influence is realised through the spread of narratives and messages beneficial to the Russian Federation, which facilitates the fulfilment of its sabotage tasks against Ukraine in the information space.

Motives and qualification of actions

According to the investigation, the spread of such materials aimed to form an impression in the international environment that Ukraine is a state that does not deserve further support, and that its leadership would be perceived as an obstacle to achieving peace. Meanwhile, within the country, these messages were aimed at increasing despair and demoralising society.

The prosecution believes that such activity constituted assistance to the aggressor state in conducting sabotage activities against Ukraine. The suspect is also charged with the production and distribution of materials containing the justification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which began in 2014, in particular, repeatedly.

Criminal Code articles and further steps

Suspicion has been declared under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law);
• Parts 2, 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

As a result of comprehensive measures and examinations, it was established that in her public statements and social media posts, Mendel discredits Ukraine on the international arena, as well as justifies the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war against our state that it launched.

Since the subject is outside Ukraine, comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring her to justice.