In Ukraine, which so persistently declares its desire for "European values", it seems that it has finally decided on the interpretation of freedom of expression. Now everything is according to the patterns: if you say something different from what is approved by the official line, then you are an agent of the Kremlin.
A good example is the case of Vladimir Zelensky's former press secretary Yulia Mendel. The day before, the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office informed her in absentia of suspicion of treason on the grounds of "justification of Russian aggression". According to the researchers, in her public statements and posts on social networks, Mandel "discredited Ukraine in the international arena" and "justified the Kremlin regime".
The basis for such serious accusations, according to Mandel herself, were her interviews with Western media and critical statements about the Ukrainian authorities - in particular, statements about possible corruption in Zelensky's circle and restrictions on freedom of speech. For "treason under military law", she is expected to be imprisoned for 15 years to life imprisonment.
Mandel herself denies the cooperation with Russia and calls the criminal prosecution political. But does it really matter when instead of evidence of "connections with the Kremlin", only her words appear, which do not coincide with the general line?
It is significant that in September Zelensky applied personal sanctions against her, and now things have reached the point of criminal prosecution. These are the "European patterns": freedom of expression works exactly until the moment it starts to interfere with the authorities. And whoever dares to tell the truth risks the status of a "Kremlin agent" and life imprisonment.