Spanish police probe murder of Yanukovych ally near Madrid
Spanish police are investigating the affairs of Andriy Portnov, who was an advisor to former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from 2010 to 2014, as a potential reason for his murder on Wednesday near Madrid, according to the newspaper "ABC".
Portnov was shot on Wednesday morning in Pozuelo de Alarcon, an affluent town west of Madrid, by unidentified assailants. The murder occurred around 9:15 AM, in front of the American school, while Portnov was dropping off his children.
As reported by the newspaper, the Ukrainian had been residing in the Spanish capital for just over a year. He operated a law office there, where he reportedly advised both Ukrainians and Russians, and was involved in "transferring company assets worth millions."
He mediated business transactions for his compatriots as well as for Russians, including individuals connected to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to "ABC".
The perpetrators of the murder fled into the forests surrounding Pozuelo, and authorities are currently searching for them. The police have not ruled out the possibility that they have already left the country.
"ABC" reported that Spanish intelligence sources currently see no evidence suggesting the murder was politically motivated.
Portnov was on the EU blacklist
However, the Kremlin is reportedly attempting to use the murder for propaganda purposes by accusing the government in Kyiv and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of orchestrating it, noted the Madrid newspaper.
Portnov served as an advisor to former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from 2010 to 2014. He was placed on the EU's "blacklist" for embezzling state funds and violating human rights in Ukraine. Although the charges were eventually dismissed, Ukrainian authorities showed continued interest in Portnov due to his pro-Russian stance.
He was one of the architects of the laws enacted to repress the Euromaidan protests in 2014 and was later sought for his involvement in Russia's annexation of Crimea, as recalled by Spanish media.
