Spain classified Portnov’s murder case – what is known
23 May 2025 08:15
Madrid’s highest court has ruled not to disclose details of the case of the murder of former deputy head of Viktor Yanukovych’s administration Andriy Portnov. EFE writes about this with reference to its own sources in the High Court of Madrid,
The proceedings are supposed to be kept secret, but some details of the high-profile investigation have been leaked to the press.
Shots in the back – no chance of rescue
The first results of the investigation indicate that the victim was shot in the back as he was returning to his car, a black premium Mercedes parked near the sidewalk.
According to EFE’s sources, nine bullet casings were found at the scene, indicating that the attacker was determined – he actually emptied the weapon’s magazine to make sure his target was dead.
The exact number of bullets that hit the victim has not yet been determined, as the preliminary forensic report is still pending.
Progress of the investigation
The Spanish National Police is actively working to solve the crime. The main focus of the investigation is the analysis of surveillance footage, in particular from the university residence located opposite the American College. These recordings may be key to identifying the vehicle used by the attackers.
Investigators believe that three people committed the murder:
- Theshooter, who directly fired the shots.
- Two accomplices who helped organize the escape from the crime scene to the Casa de Campo Park, a large wooded area connecting Madrid to Pozuelo de Alarcon.
The work of the Homicide Investigation Team V and the Scientific Police of the Madrid General Directorate is currently underway. A ballistics specialist is analyzing the shell casings to determine the type of weapon and ammunition used in the crime. The judge in charge of the case has placed a seal of secrecy on the investigation, according to sources at the Madrid High Court of Justice (TSJM).
The motive remains unknown
At the moment, law enforcement agencies are not disclosing versions of the motives for the murder. All hypotheses remain open.
Spanish law enforcement is 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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“The police are working at the scene, analyzing the surveillance cameras and the evidence collected. We are doing everything we can to identify the suspects and establish the motives for the crime,” police sources told EFE.
As reported by
It happened at the gates of an American school in the wealthy Posuelo district of Madrid.
According to the Spanish radio station Cadena SER, at the time of the attack, Portnov was driving his children to school.
What is known about Andrey 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 spent five years abroad.
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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