Former Ukrainian Aide Shot Dead Outside American School in Madrid
Andriy Portnov, a former adviser to Ukraine's pro-Russian ex-president Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead on Wednesday morning outside the American School of Madrid, located in the affluent suburb of Pozuelo. Spanish authorities reported that police received a call regarding the shooting at approximately 9:15 AM and quickly arrived at the scene. According to local reports, the 52-year-old Portnov was transporting his children to school when multiple assailants shot him several times before fleeing into nearby wooded areas. Thankfully, no one else was injured in this tragic incident.
Witness accounts indicate that Portnov was targeted as he attempted to enter his vehicle, suffering numerous gunshot wounds to his head and body.
Andriy Portnov was a prominent figure during Yanukovych's presidency, known for his pro-Kremlin stance and for drafting legislation that sought to persecute participants of the 2014 Euromaidan revolution, which ultimately led to Yanukovych's ousting. Following the political turmoil that enveloped Ukraine in early 2014, Portnov fled to Russia and subsequently faced sanctions from the West for his role in the former administration.
In 2015, he succeeded in challenging the sanctions against him, resulting in his removal from the EU's list of individuals whose assets were frozen due to state misappropriation and human rights violations. However, he remained embroiled in controversy, as in 2018, Ukraine's Security Service opened an investigation against him relating to state treason and his alleged involvement in Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. This case was closed in 2019.
Later developments led to him being placed on the United States sanctions list in 2021, based on accusations of exerting influence to manipulate Ukraine's courts and undermine reform initiatives.
The assassination marks another incident involving figures linked to Russia occurring in Spain since the onset of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reflecting ongoing tensions and the complex international ramifications of the conflict. In a chilling parallel, a recent case involved a Russian pilot who had defected to Ukraine being found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a parking garage near Alicante.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding Portnov's untimely death, questions linger about the motives behind the shooting, with the geopolitical backdrop casting a long shadow over this troubling event.
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