On May 21, former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov, the scandalous former deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead in the Spanish capital Madrid.
Reuters reports this, citing sources in Spanish law enforcement agencies. The murder occurred at around 9 a.m. in the elite suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón, near the American School, where the children were arriving.
According to witnesses, Portnov was shot five times, after which the attackers disappeared. According to preliminary data, two or three people could have been involved in the attack. The police do not exclude the planned nature of the crime, given that the shooting took place in a public place.
Andriy Portnov served as Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Yanukovych from 2011 to 2014. After the Revolution of Dignity, he left Ukraine: first to Russia, then to Austria. In recent years, according to journalists, he has lived or been permanently in Spain.
Portnov publicly supported the "anti-Maidan", actively advocated for amnesty for Berkut security forces, and is also known for threats against journalists and activists.
In 2021, the SBU opened proceedings against him for treason, and he also appeared in investigations into illicit enrichment.
Spanish police have not officially released a version of the motive for the murder, but among the main hypotheses is a political order. Personal or criminal motives are also being considered.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has not yet provided an official comment. The Security Service of Ukraine also did not comment on Portnov's death.
The death of one of the most odious representatives of the Yanukovych regime, who had been outside Ukraine for a long time, may have international resonance, given the circumstances of the assassination attempt and the place where it was committed.
