Prominent Ukrainian Ex-Politician Shot Dead in Madrid
Former Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Andriy Portnov was shot dead in Madrid, Spain, in the morning on 21 May.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to sources of Reuters, Ukrainska Pravda, ABC.es, and El Mundo.
An unknown shooter or shooters reportedly shot Portnov, 51, on Wednesday morning at the gates of an American school in the wealthy Posuelo neighbourhood of Madrid.
Police received a call about the shooting at 9:15 am local time. Law enforcement officials did not name the victim.
According to Cadena SER radio station, the man was walking his children to school when he was shot.
ABC.es, citing eyewitnesses, writes that the killer probably fled on foot in the direction of Casa de Campo. He was wearing a blue tracksuit and carrying a waist bag. He is currently being searched for. It is also noted that the killer may have had one or two accomplices who covered him. In particular, eyewitnesses told about some guys on a motorbike.
It is also stated that emergency services that arrived at the scene could only pronounce him dead due to serious injuries caused by at least five gunshots to the head and back.
ABC sources added that Portnov lived nearby and had left his two daughters at school before the attack.
El Mundo also reports five shots, the last of which was to the head.
It is noted that the police are looking for a ‘tall, thin man’ who, according to El Mundo's sources in the investigative agencies, fled in the direction of Casa de Campo after shooting the man. A large-scale search operation was launched in the area.
According to the newspaper's sources, Portnov was shot from behind. One bullet hit him in the neck, and after he fell face down, he was shot in the head again.
Law enforcement officials are currently considering two versions: a score-settling within organised crime or a politically motivated murder.
Portnov was deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in 2010-2014.
In 2018, criminal proceedings were opened against Portnov in Ukraine under the article ‘high treason’.