Andriy Portnov's homicide leaves unanswered questions and little sympathy

[ad_1] James Waterhouse BBC Ukraine correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4fbb/live/fc9d2f40-37ea-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Europa Press via Getty Images Police in Madrid - wearing navy blue uniform that says Policia Nacional - hold up blue tarpaulin to hide the body of Andriy Portnov. You cannot see the body in the photo, but it is clear that this is an active crime scene. It looks to be a sunny day." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Europa Press through Getty Photos Andriy Portnov's homicide in a Madrid suburb has shocked Ukrainians, but it surely has not precisely triggered an outpouring of grief.

The controversial former official had simply dropped his youngsters off on the American College when he was shot a number of instances within the automotive park.

The picture of his lifeless physique mendacity face down in a gymnasium package marked the top of a life synonymous with Ukrainian corruption and Russian affect.

Ukraine's media have been discussing the 51-year-old's frequent threats to journalists, in addition to his large affect below the nation's final pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych.

"A person who referred to as for the killing of political opponents all of a sudden acquired what he needed from others," noticed reporter Oleksandr Holubov. Information web site Ukrayinska Pravda even referred to as him "the satan's advocate".

Uncommon phrases of restraint got here from Portnov's as soon as political rival Serhiy Vlasenko, an MP, who stated: "You possibly can't kill folks. When discussing somebody's demise, we should stay human."

Portnov was controversial and broadly disliked. The motives for his homicide could seem evident, however his demise has nonetheless left unanswered questions.

'A kingpin'

Earlier than getting into Ukrainian politics, Portnov ran a legislation agency. He labored with then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko till 2010, earlier than defecting to Yanukovych's camp when he gained the election.

"It was a giant story of betrayal," remembers Ukrainian journalist Kristina Berdynskykh. "As a result of Tymoshenko was a pro-Western politician, and Yanukovych pro-Russian."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bfc9/live/6aa6de00-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA A file photo dated 19 February 2010 shows then Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (a woman with blonde plaits on her head) speaking to her representative Andrey Portnov (a man with short dark hair) in Kyiv, Ukraine. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA Portnov had labored intently with then-Prime Minister Tymoshenko

The adviser turned the nation's first deputy head of the Presidential Workplace and arrange a nationwide felony code in 2012. For him, his critics say, his ascent was much less about politics, and extra about energy and affect.

"He was only a good lawyer, everybody knew he was very sensible," Kristina tells me.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union within the early Nineteen Nineties, Ukraine inherited a judicial system in determined want of reform. Mykhailo Zhernakov, a authorized professional and head of the Dejure Basis believes Portnov remoulded it to ensure that the federal government to cowl up unlawful schemes, and to masks Russian makes an attempt to manage the nation.

"He was the kingpin, mastermind and architect of this corrupt authorized system designed to serve the pro-Russian administration on the time," he says.

'A rotten system'

Over a decade, Portnov would sue journalists who wrote adverse tales about him by means of the courts and judges he managed. His makes an attempt to manage the judicial system would result in him being sanctioned by the US.

On the time, Washington accused the adviser of inserting loyal officers in senior positions for his personal profit, in addition to "shopping for courtroom selections".

Portnov later pursued activists who took half in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution, which toppled Viktor Yanukovych from energy, and compelled him to flee the nation to Russia.

"He used sexual threats," says Oksana Romaniuk who remembers her and different journalists' interactions with Portnov nicely.

As director of the Institute of Mass Info, she displays free speech in Ukraine.

Each time a damning report was printed, the response was acquainted and constant. "When folks uncovered his corruption, he accused them of pretend information," she says.

"Even when journalists had paperwork and testimonies backing up the allegations, it was not possible to win the lawsuits in courtroom. It was not possible to defend your self. It was a rotten system."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3786/live/19f69630-37be-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a man in a white shirt, and Deputy Head of his Administration Andriy Portnov, a man wearing a grey suit, shake hands in Kyiv, Ukraine August 2, 2010." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Portnov (R) turned an integral a part of Viktor Yanukovych's presidential workforce

Andriy Portnov finally settled in Moscow after his outdated boss Yanukovych fled in 2014. Investigative reporter Maksym Savchuk subsequently investigated his ties to Moscow, in addition to his in depth property portfolio there.

"He responded with phrases I do not wish to quote, derogatory ones about my mom," he remembers. "It is a trait of his character; he's a really vindictive particular person."

Even after leaving Ukraine, Portnov nonetheless tried to affect Ukrainian politics by taking management of pro-Kremlin TV channel NewsOne.

He returned in 2019, solely to flee once more with the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The irony of Portnov finally settling in Spain and sending his youngsters to a prestigious American faculty has not been misplaced on many.

Alongside the undisguised enjoyment of Portnov's demise, there was limitless hypothesis over who was accountable.

"It might have been the Russians as a result of he knew so many issues," suggests authorized professional Mykhailo Zhernakov.

"He was concerned in so many shady Russian operations it may very well be them or different felony teams. He managed to bother lots of people," he says.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9b8e/live/85723120-37bf-11f0-9e4d-b7a43daeff47.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA Police officers are seen looking at forensic number markers on the floor and a white tent as they search for evidence at the scene of a shooting outside the American School of Madrid (21 May 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA Regardless of the motives being clearer on this facet of the border, Ukrainian safety sources seem like attempting to distance themselves from the killing.

Kyiv has beforehand carried out assassinations in Russian-occupied territory and in Russia itself, however not in Spain.

Some Spanish media experiences counsel his homicide was not political, however relatively over "financial causes or revenge".

"You possibly can think about how many individuals should be interrogated with a purpose to slim down the suspects," thinks Maskym Savchuk. "As a result of this particular person has a thousand and one enemies."

In Ukraine, Portnov is seen as somebody who helped Russia kind the foundations for its invasion. A as soon as normal dislike of him has solely been intensified since 2022.

Regardless of this, Mykhailo Zhernakov hopes his demise can also be a possibility for wider judicial reforms.

"Simply because he is gone does not imply his affect has," he warns. "As a result of lots of the folks he appointed or helped get jobs are nonetheless within the system."