Former Ukrainian Politician Andriy Portnov Shot Dead Outside School in Madrid
Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian politician, was shot and killed outside a school in Madrid on Wednesday morning, as per Al Jazeera.
Spain’s Ministry of Interior identified Portnov as the victim of the fatal shooting, which occurred near the gates of the American School in the affluent suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón.
Police responded to the scene at approximately 9:15 a.m. local time (07:15 GMT) following reports of gunfire. Witnesses told investigators that Portnov was shot multiple times in the head and torso by what appeared to be more than one assailant. The attackers reportedly fled the scene on foot and remain at large.
Local media outlet Cadena SER reported that Portnov had been dropping his children off at school when the attack occurred.
Portnov served as deputy head of the presidential office under then-President Viktor Yanukovych from 2010 to 2014 and was widely known for his role in crafting repressive legislation during Ukraine’s 2014 revolution. Following Yanukovych’s ouster, Portnov faced widespread criticism and international sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him in 2021 for alleged efforts to undermine democratic processes in Ukraine.
Portnov had been living in exile in recent years, though his exact whereabouts had not been widely publicized.
