Ukrainian lawyer is shot dead while dropping off his children at prestigious American School in Madrid
An unidentified gunman or gunmen shot and killed former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov on Wednesday morning outside the gates of the American School in Madrid’s affluent neighbourhood of Pozuelo, a source close to the investigation said.
Police received the call about the shooting at 9.15 a.m. (0715 GMT) local time, the Madrid police told Reuters, without identifying the victim.
Radio station Cadena SER said the man was taking his children to the school when he was shot.
Portnov was a senior aide to Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovich who was ousted in 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity.
He fled Ukraine for Russia, though later returned in 2021 – just one year before Vladimir Putin invaded the country.
Last year, he won a defamation case against several Ukrainian outlets who described him as a ‘pro-Russian politician… infamous for his open support for Russia.’
In 2021, he was sanctioned by the US for corruption, with the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) writing of him: ‘Widely known as a court fixer, Portnov was credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine’s courts and undermining reform efforts.
‘As of 2019, Portnov took steps to control the Ukrainian judiciary, influence associated legislation, sought to place loyal officials in senior judiciary positions, and purchase court decisions.
Police received the call about the shooting at 9.15 a.m. (0715 GMT) local time, according to Madrid police (File image)
‘In mid-2019, Portnov colluded with a high ranking Ukrainian government official to shape the country’s higher legal institutions to their advantage and influence Ukraine’s Constitutional Court.
‘Additionally, Portnov has been involved in an attempt to influence the Ukrainian Prosecutor General.’
More to follow.
