Mendel: Yermak is the most dangerous person in the power vertical
3 December 07:45
In a long interview with Radio Liberty, Yulia Mendel, the former press secretary to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shared her observations on the role of Andriy Yermak in Ukrainian politics and his influence on the president’s decisions, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Mendel worked in the Presidential Office from 2019 to 2021 and during her last year in office she interacted directly with Yermak, already in the status of the head of the OP.
In the conversation, the journalist voiced a number of statements about Yermak’s management style, his possible political ambitions, and his influence on key processes in the country.
According to her, Yermak provided Zelenskyy with information in a way that was beneficial to him and influenced the work of other agencies; blocked the work of law enforcement agencies; blocked procurement; stopped the implementation of specific presidential orders; called officials (and Yulia Mendel personally) and forbade them to do what Zelenskyy asked.
“Now, when I say this, I am scared. I realize that no one will believe it now, but I pray to God every day, thanking him for my life. Because Andrey Borisovich is a very dangerous person,” Mendel said.
She said that he has influence on law enforcement agencies and the ability to launch criminal proceedings “out of the blue.”
Mendel knows from her sources who remained in the President’s Office that it was Yermak who convinced Zelensky that there would be no full-scale invasion.
So far, there has been no reaction from Yermak or Zelensky to Yulia Mendel’s frank interview. Kommersant Ukrainian is ready to provide an opportunity to express its position.
