The victim was a former adviser to ex-president Viktor Yanukovych and was under investigation for corruption, according to police sources, who indicate that two or three assailants were involved
Ukrainian lawyer Andrii Portnov, a former adviser to ex-president Viktor Yanukovych, was killed early Wednesday morning in front of the entrance to the exclusive American School in the Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón, where he had just dropped off his children, according to police sources cited by EL PAÍS. He was about to get into a Mercedes when two or three assailants approached and shot him five times, with at least three bullets hitting him in the head — fatally — and in the back. So far, no arrests have been made.
The killing occurred around 9:15 a.m., at which time, according to a spokeswoman for Spain’s National Police Headquarters, a call was received on the emergency line 091 reporting a person found in a public street with gunshot wounds. By then, the students — ranging from preschool to high school — had already entered their classrooms. Officers from the forensic police unit and the homicide squad (Group V) have been dispatched to the scene at number 3 América Street and have taken over the investigation. Officers from the Madrid Provincial Information Brigade joined them later, suggesting an investigation into the political dimensions of the crime.
Police sources have identified the victim as Ukrainian national Andrii Portnov, a former adviser to ex-president Viktor Yanukovych and a figure under investigation for corruption in his home country, where several criminal cases have been filed against him — many of which he has won in court. In 2018, Portnov — known for his pro-Russian ties — was investigated for his alleged involvement in the annexation of Crimea, and Ukraine’s Security Service opened a case against him for “treason,” which was later dismissed.
The victim was about to get into a Mercedes when he was ambushed by two or three attackers, who fired five shots at him before fleeing into a wooded area. Police have not disclosed the type of weapon used, as the investigation is still in its early stages. According to the media, Portnov had four children and had acquired Russian nationality in 2014.
Ukrainian lawyer Andrii Portnov shot dead outside American School in Madrid
