Murder of Controversial Ukrainian Ex-Official Andriy Portnov in Madrid Sparks Questions

Andriy Portnov’s murder in a Madrid suburb shocked many Ukrainians. But it did not bring out much grief.

Portnov had just dropped his kids off at the American School. Then, he was shot several times in the car park.

A photo showed his body lying face down in a gym bag. This marked the end of a life linked to Ukrainian corruption and Russian influence.

Ukraine’s media talked about how Portnov often threatened journalists. He had much power under Ukraine’s last pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych.

Reporter Oleksandr Holubov said, “A man who told others to kill political foes got what he wanted from others.” A news site called Portnov “the devil’s advocate.”

Serhiy Vlasenko, a lawmaker and Portnov’s old rival, said, “You can’t kill people. We must stay human when we talk about death.”

Portnov was a hated and controversial man. His murder has many questions, even if the reasons seem clear.

Before politics, Portnov ran a law firm. He worked with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko until 2010. Then, he switched to Yanukovych’s side after he won.

Journalist Kristina Berdynskykh said, “It was a big betrayal. Tymoshenko was pro-West, Yanukovych was pro-Russia.”

Portnov became the first deputy head of the President’s Office. He helped set up a national criminal code in 2012. Critics say he wanted power more than politics.

“He was a smart lawyer,” Kristina said.

After the Soviet Union fell, Ukraine’s court system needed reform. Legal expert Mykhailo Zhernakov said Portnov changed it to help the government hide illegal acts. It also helped Russia control Ukraine.

“He was the main planner of this corrupt legal system,” Zhernakov said.

For over ten years, Portnov sued journalists who wrote bad stories about him. He used courts and judges he controlled. The US put sanctions on him for this.

Washington said he put loyal people in top jobs and “bought court decisions.”

Portnov also went after activists from Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution. This protest removed Yanukovych. Portnov had to flee to Russia.

Oksana Romaniuk, who studies free speech, said Portnov used threats. “When people showed his corruption, he called it fake news,” she said.

Even with proof, journalists could not win court cases. “It was a bad system,” she said.

Portnov settled in Moscow after Yanukovych fled in 2014. Reporter Maksym Savchuk looked into his Moscow ties and property.

Portnov replied with bad words about Maksym’s mother. “He is very vengeful,” Maksym said.

Even after leaving Ukraine, Portnov tried to control politics by leading a pro-Kremlin TV channel.

He came back in 2019 but fled again after Russia’s full invasion in 2022.

Many find it strange that Portnov lived in Spain and sent his kids to an American school.

People guess who killed him.

Legal expert Zhernakov said, “It could be the Russians because he knew many secrets.” Portnov had annoyed many people.

Ukraine’s security tries to avoid linking to the murder. Kyiv has done hits in Russian lands but not in Spain.

Some Spanish reports say the murder was about money or revenge, not politics.

Maksym said, “Many people must be questioned because he had many enemies.”

In Ukraine, people see Portnov as a man who helped Russia invade. Many disliked him even more since 2022.

Zhernakov hopes this death leads to court reforms.

“Just because he died doesn’t mean his influence is gone,” he said. “Many people he helped are still in the system.”