Madrid, Spain: Ukrainian ex-politician Andriy Portnov shot useless outdoors American faculty

[ad_1] Madrid, Spain CNN —

Former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov, who labored as a senior aide to pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych, has been shot useless outdoors a faculty close to the Spanish capital Madrid, Spanish authorities advised CNN.

Portnov, 51, a lawyer and former lawmaker, was the deputy head of Yanukovych’s administration earlier than it was ousted in Ukraine’s 2014 pro-democracy rebellion.

He was shot a number of instances by a number of assailants on Wednesday as he was getting right into a automobile round 9:15 a.m. native time (3:15 a.m. ET), a Spanish police supply advised CNN, including that the assailants fled right into a wooded space. The Madrid area’s Summa emergency providers mentioned he had three gunshot wounds, together with one to the pinnacle, and he died shortly after the primary ambulance arrived on the scene.

The taking pictures came about outdoors the American College of Madrid, positioned in Pozuelo de Alaracon, an prosperous suburb simply west of Madrid.

The varsity despatched out varied pressing messages to folks following the incident, which came about shortly after faculty drop-off, noting that each one college students have been protected and that the varsity believes the sufferer is the daddy of a pupil however was awaiting formal identification, a supply near the varsity advised CNN. Police cordoned off the world outdoors the elite faculty, which has simply over 1,000 college students from the US, Spain and a number of other dozen different international locations.

Portnov was sanctioned by the US in 2021 for corruption and bribery beneath the Magnitsky Act. He was “credibly accused of utilizing his affect to purchase entry and selections in Ukraine’s courts and undermining reform effort,” in accordance with the US Treasury Division.

The Magnitsky Act , signed into legislation in December 2012, blocks entry into the US and freezes the property of sure Russian and pro-Russian authorities officers and businessmen accused of human rights violations.

The Ukrainian International Ministry and the workplace of the President of Ukraine haven't commented on Portnov’s loss of life.

The Safety Service of Ukraine beforehand investigated Portnov’s potential involvement in Russia’s annexation of Crimea, however the case was later closed.

The previous politician fled Ukraine months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, in accordance with an investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, when males of draft age weren't permitted to depart.

Canada additionally froze his property in 2014 as a part of a crackdown on “corrupt international officers,” in relation to his work as a former adviser to ousted ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Portnov was appointed deputy head of Yanukovych’s administration in 2010, in addition to the pinnacle of Ukraine’s Essential Directorate for Judicial Reform and Judicial System. On the similar time, Portnov grew to become a member of the board of the Nationwide Financial institution of Ukraine.

Yanukovych was pushed from workplace by mass demonstrations in Ukraine in 2014 after he turned his again on the European Union in favor of nearer ties with Russia.

Yanukovych then fled Ukraine for Russia, together with Portnov and different high-level former officers within the wake of the 2014 pro-democracy, pro-European Maidan protests . Portnov later returned to Ukraine in 2019.

Ukraine itself by no means imposed sanctions on Portnov.

In December 2024, media and civil society organizations within the nation launched a petition demanding sanctions in opposition to him, alleging continued corruption geared toward controlling the Ukrainian judiciary, and highlighting considerations that he was going after vital journalists with lawsuits and threats. Portnov as soon as released the personal data of a number of members of an investigative journalism mission run by RFE/RL, who have been trying into his dealings with the Ukrainian authorities.

The petition gathered 25,000 signatures, however Ukraine’s Cupboard of Ministers rejected it, citing inadequate grounds for sanctions.

Portnov will not be the one ally of former Ukrainian President Yanukovych who was killed after he was ousted from energy.

In 2015, CNN reported on two high-profile shooting deaths within the Ukrainian capital – one among a former member of parliament with ties to Yanukovych, the opposite of a Ukrainian journalist recognized for his pro-Russian views.

On the time, these killings renewed hypothesis a couple of conspiracy to kill individuals near Yanukovych, after three former members of parliament from his political get together died by suspected suicide, discovered useless of their houses.

Spain has additionally skilled a current spate of assaults associated to the Russia-Ukraine war , and it has vital populations of expatriates from each international locations.

In 2022, there was an explosion at Ukraine’s embassy in Madrid, injuring one Ukrainian worker who was dealing with a letter addressed to Kyiv’s ambassador to Spain, officers mentioned.

Different letter bombs adopted, together with one despatched to the Spanish prime minister. A Spanish man was finally arrested for the bombs, which a choose mentioned have been supposed to disturb public peace and create strain for Spain to suppress its assist to Ukraine.

Spain has offered humanitarian and army assist to Ukraine for the reason that Russian invasion.

In 2024, a Russian pilot who dramatically defected to Ukraine by flying his helicopter throughout the border was found dead in Alicante , Spain, after being shot within the parking storage of an condominium constructing.