Who killed Portnov: the main versions of the investigation, what is known about the murder
21 May 14:38
This morning in the Spanish city of Posuelo de Alarcón, near Madrid, Ukrainian Andriy Portnov, a former adviser to fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych who was under investigation for corruption, was killed. "Komersant Ukrainian" has gathered all the information about the murder that is currently available.
What is known about Portnov’s murder
On the morning of March 21, Andriy Portnov, a former adviser to Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead in Spain. It happened at the gates of an American school in the wealthy Posuelo neighborhood of Madrid.
According to the Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Portnov was driving children to school at the time of the attack.
Police sources say that a man on a motorcycle was waiting for the victim at the school gate, and when Portnov arrived, he shot him and then fled.
According to Spanish media, Portnov was near his Mercedes car when two or three attackers approached him. They fired five shots, three of which hit him in the back and head. One of the shots to the back of the head was fatal.
Cadena SER clarifies that one of the attackers, described as a tall, thin man in black clothes with an orange bag, was waiting for Portnov near the school.
According to other Spanish media outlets, the victim’s lifeless body was found around 9:15 a.m. face down in a street in the aforementioned municipality near the school, which was being visited by dozens of students at the time. There are at least two witnesses to the crime who say that one of the killers was dressed entirely in black and carried an orange bag. He is said to be a tall, thin man who allegedly fled with a friend in a BMW in the direction of the Casa de Campo.
El País emphasizes that the attack was planned, as the shooter (or shooters) knew exactly Portnov’s schedule.
Madrid police launched a large-scale manhunt for the attackers, using helicopters and drones to monitor the area. The investigation is being carried out by the Comisaría General de Información, which specializes in cases related to terrorism and organized crime.
The school later issued a statement confirming that the victim was the father of a child attending the school.
According to a report by the Association of Autonomous Private Schools, it is the second most expensive school in Spain, with tuition prices ranging from 8,925 euros for preschool to 19,865 euros for middle and high school, El País reports.
Classes are currently in session, but the school is asking parents who can to come and pick up their children. Many have already come to pick up their children, and as they leave, they are reluctant to comment on the situation while forensic police officers analyze the scene next to the murdered man’s car, a new luxury Mercedes with Spanish license plates.
The body remains on the ground behind the car, just 50 meters from the school. Apparently, the man was looking at something in the trunk of the car, because the front door was not open, but the trunk was open.
Also, drones and a helicopter are flying over the area, trying to find the killers. The municipal police have cordoned off the area around the training center.
Possible motives
Spanish law enforcement officials are considering several versions of the motives for the murder, including
- Political motive: Portnov was known for his pro-Russian stance and support of Viktor Yanukovych. After the Revolution of Dignity, he left Ukraine and was under investigation on suspicion of treason and corruption.
- Personal debts: Police sources do not rule out that the murder could have been related to Portnov’s financial obligations.
- Ties to organized crime: The local police are considering the possibility that the attack was a contract killing linked to criminal organizations.
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What we know about Andriy Portnov
Andriy Portnov worked in the administration of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, and in January 2014 became the first deputy head of the Presidential Administration. After Yanukovych fled, Portnov also left Ukraine and lived abroad for five years.
In March 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions against 18 Ukrainian citizens suspected of misappropriating public funds and involvement in human rights violations. Portnov was among them. In March 2015, the EU extended the sanctions but removed Portnov from the list.
In March 2018, the Security Service of Ukraine opened a treason case against Portnov. Because of this, he filed a lawsuit against the SBU. The case was later closed.
In May 2019, Portnov returned to Ukraine after a five-year absence.
In December 2021, he was subject to US sanctions. He was included in the list of persons under the so-called Magnitsky Act. This list includes high-ranking officials involved in human rights violations and large-scale corruption.
The U.S. Treasury Department explained that as of 2019, Portnov “has taken steps to establish control over Ukrainian courts, change relevant legislation, appoint individuals close to him to high judicial positions, and ‘buy’ court decisions.”
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