Controversial Ukrainian ex-official Portnov shot dead in Madrid, source says

Andriy Portnov, a former top official in Ukraine's ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, was shot dead by unidentified attackers outside the American School in Madrid, Reuters reported on May 21, citing a source close to the investigation.

A source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent that Portnov was indeed shot dead, based on preliminary information. No further details were provided.

Portnov served in the administration of then-President Yanukovych between 2010 and 2014. After the EuroMaidan Revolution, he lived alternately abroad and in Ukraine and was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2021 over allegations that he was involved in corruption, particularly in the judiciary.

The shooting took place at around 9:15 a.m. local time, with Portnov being shot at five times and suffering at least three wounds to his head and torso, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported, citing undisclosed police sources. The shot to the head proved fatal, the outlet wrote.

Two or three people are believed to be involved in the attack, though no arrests have been made so far.  The newspaper's sources suggested debt issues as a possible motive.

Portnov was approaching his Mercedes car when he was surprised and shot by the attackers. He was found at the entrance to the American School, El Pais reported. Emergency services found the man dead upon their arrival, according to the outlet.

Madrid emergency services confirmed on social media that a man was shot dead in the area, without naming the victim. El Pais reported that Portnov was identified as a father at the school. He has four children.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainska Pravda, and other outlets have also reported the story, citing their sources.

Portnov, a lawyer, was known as one of the most litigious Ukrainian ex-officials. He filed a defamation lawsuit against several media outlets, including the Kyiv Independent, over a reference to him as "pro-Russian."

The lawsuit concerned a story by Glib Kanievskyi, then a Ukrainian journalist and currently a defense ministry official, published in several news outlets, including the Kyiv Independent, in September 2023. A Kyiv court ruled in Portnov's favor in September 2024.

Portnov led the legal team of then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in 2005-2010 and sat in the parliament between 2006 and 2010. After 2010, he became the head of Yanukovych's main judiciary department and deputy head of his administration.

The ex-official left Ukraine for Russia and later Austria after Yanukovych was ousted in the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014, but returned to Ukraine in 2019. Portnov fled Ukraine again in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion broke out, even though the travel ban for military-age men was already in effect.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) investigated Portnov over alleged involvement in the Russian occupation of Crimea. A treason case against him was opened in March 2018, but was later closed.

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The Kyiv IndependentRadosław Sikorski