--- title: "SBU in absentia charges former Zelensky press secretary Iuliia Mendel with high treason" description: "The SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office have notified former presidential press secretary Iuliia Mendel in absentia of suspicion of high treason and justification of aggression. She faces two criminal articles and is currently abroad." date: 2026-11-03T17:00:10.195Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sbu-charges-iuliia-mendel-high-treason tags: [ukraine, sbu, yulia-mendel, treason, zelensky, martial-law] author: "Marina Slivenko, Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # SBU in absentia charges former Zelensky press secretary Iuliia Mendel with high treason ![Iuliia Mendel in a dark blazer and light blouse giving a comment](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/03/sbu-za-obyavila-mendel-podozrenie-v-gosizmene/sbu-za-obyavila-mendel-podozrenie-v-gosizmene-1.webp) ## Key Points - The SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office in absentia notified former press secretary Iuliia Mendel of suspicion of high treason under martial law (Part 2, Article 111 of the Criminal Code) and justification of aggression (Parts 2–3, Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code). - According to the investigation, in public speeches and social media she discredited Ukraine and justified the Kremlin regime; conclusions were drawn based on a series of measures and expert examinations. - Mendel is outside Ukraine, and the agency announced ongoing measures to bring her to justice; the Office of the President had previously refuted her resonant statements about working with Zelenskyy. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General, has in absentia notified Iuliia Mendel, former press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of suspicion. According to the investigation, the suspect is engaged in "information and subversive activities" against the state. This was reported by the SBU press service, cited by RBC-Ukraine, Slovo i Dilo, UNIAN, and other media outlets. The investigation is being conducted by investigators from the Main Investigative Directorate of the SBU under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General. ### What exactly is she accused of Investigators have incriminated Mendel under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine simultaneously: Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law), and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, or denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, and glorification of its participants). According to the agency, a "series of measures and expert examinations" established that in public statements and social media posts, the suspect discredited Ukraine on the international arena and justified the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war it launched. The suspicion was served in absentia: since Mendel is outside Ukraine, comprehensive measures are underway to bring her to justice, according to the SBU. ### Context: A high-profile scandal in the spring of 2026 The charges fit into a series of resonant statements made by the former press secretary, which sparked a public scandal in May 2026. In interviews, including one with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Mendel revealed several details about working with the head of state, calling Volodymyr Zelenskyy "hidden evil," while observers noted she provided no evidence to back up her claims. Her assertion that Ukraine was allegedly ready to cede Donbas in 2022 to end the war caused particular outrage. ### Office of the President's reaction The Office of the President of Ukraine reacted to these accusations, categorically refuting the voiced statements. Officials stated that the former press secretary is "long gone out of her mind" and dismissed her remarks as untrue. According to the investigation's logic, it was these public statements that formed the basis for the charges of discrediting the state and justifying aggression. ### What comes next Mendel herself is not quoted in public SBU statements; her position regarding the announced suspicion is not provided in the agency's materials. Since the suspect is abroad, law enforcement officers state that comprehensive measures to bring her to responsibility are ongoing. The further course of the case, including potential international procedures, will depend on the country of her actual location and the stance of the relevant authorities. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Бывшему пресс-секретарю президента Мендель объявили подозрение в госизмене](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kolishniy-rechnitsi-prezidenta-mendel-ogolosili-1793724364.html) - Primary source: in absentia suspicion under two criminal articles, suspect abroad, context of the May 2026 scandal and Office of the President reaction. - [Экс-спикеру Зеленского Юлии Мендель объявили подозрение в государственной измене](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/11/03/novost/politika/eks-spikeru-zelenskogo-yulii-mendel-obyavili-podozrenie-gosudarstvennoj-izmene) - Specifies particular articles (Part 2 Art. 111, Parts 2–3 Art. 436-2) and the wording "information and subversive activity". - [СБУ сообщила о подозрении в госизмене экс-пресс-секретаря Зеленского Юлию Мендель](https://www.unian.net/politics/yulii-mendel-obyavili-podozrenie-v-gosizmene-detali-13548783.html) - Confirms the participation of the Prosecutor General's Office, the role of the SBU Main Investigative Directorate, and references the interview with Tucker Carlson. - [Экс-спикер Зеленского под ударом СБУ: Мендель заочно объявили подозрение в госизмене](https://ukraina.ru/20261103/eks-spiker-zelenskogo-pod-udarom-sbu-mendel-zaochno-obyavili-podozrenie-v-gosizmene-1084263673.html) - Similar version of the in absentia announcement of suspicion and the formulation regarding "information and subversive activity". ## FAQ ### Under which articles was Iuliia Mendel served suspicion? Under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason under martial law) and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, or denial of Russia's armed aggression and glorification of its participants). ### Where is Mendel currently located and what happens next? According to the SBU, she is outside Ukraine, which is why the suspicion was announced in absentia. The agency states that comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring her to justice. ### How did the Office of the President react to Mendel's statements? The Office of the President categorically refuted her statements and declared that the former press secretary has "long gone out of her mind".