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Did Zelensky’s Former Secretary Confirm Drug Use?

Unverified

Claim checked

“Zelensky’s former press secretary confirmed Zelensky’s cocaine use. She claims that before his interviews, he would disappear into the bathroom for 15 minutes and come back ‘a completely different person”

Published

Rechecked

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Verdict

Unverified

Former press secretary Iuliia Mendel stated in a May 2024 interview with Tucker Carlson that allegations of Volodymyr Zelensky's cocaine use are an "open secret." While she confirmed the specific anecdote about him disappearing into a bathroom for 15 minutes and returning as a "different person," she explicitly noted she has never personally seen him use drugs. Her claims are based on second-hand accounts from unnamed sources and personal observations of his behavior, leaving the underlying allegation of drug use unverified.

Reasoning

The verdict remains unverified because, while new evidence confirms Mendel did make these specific statements, the statements themselves are based on hearsay rather than direct evidence. New sources (komersant.ua, rt.com) provide the missing transcript details from the Tucker Carlson interview, confirming she used the phrase 'open secret' and described the 'bathroom' anecdote. However, Mendel admitted she has 'never seen him taking drugs' and relies on stories from 'people who spent time with Zelensky at clubs.' The Ukrainian Office of the President has dismissed her claims as unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. This update integrates the confirmed quotes while maintaining the unverified status of the actual drug use allegations, which have a long history of being used in disinformation campaigns as noted in the original report.

Source quality: The new sources provide direct quotes and context from the interview in question, allowing for a precise verification of what was said, even if the content of those statements remains anecdotal and unproven.

Key checks

  • Mendel's Specific Statements: In the interview, Mendel called the drug use an 'open secret' and described Zelensky returning from 15-minute bathroom breaks 'charged up,' but stated she never personally witnessed drug use.

  • Official Ukrainian Response: The President’s Office and the Center for Countering Disinformation dismissed Mendel's claims, stating she was not involved in high-level decision-making and is spreading unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.

  • Source of Allegations: Mendel attributes her information to unnamed doctors, people from 'Kvartal 95,' and individuals who allegedly saw Zelensky in clubs 20-25 years ago.

Confidence

High

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