2025-05-21T10:34:00Z

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Madrid, Spain CNN —

In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through both Ukrainian and Spanish communities, former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov was shot dead outside The American School of Madrid. The attack occurred around 9:15 a.m. local time (3:15 a.m. ET), as Portnov, 51, was preparing to enter his vehicle. Eyewitness accounts indicate that multiple assailants targeted him, striking him in the back and head before fleeing into the nearby wooded area.

The American School of Madrid, situated in Pozuelo de Alarcon—a wealthy suburb located just west of the Spanish capital—quickly responded to the unfolding crisis by notifying parents that all students were safe. According to a source affiliated with the school, Portnov is believed to be the father of a student enrolled there. The school caters to over 1,000 students from the United States, Spain, and various other countries, thereby amplifying the community's concern following the tragic event.

Andriy Portnov was not a stranger to controversy. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United States under the Magnitsky Act, which targets foreign officials implicated in corruption and human rights violations. The U.S. Treasury Department described Portnov as having been “credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine’s courts,” actions that undermined judicial reform efforts within the country.

The Magnitsky Act, enacted in December 2012, prohibits entry into the United States and freezes assets of certain individuals accused of serious human rights abuses. Portnov’s notoriety extends beyond U.S. borders; Canada also froze his assets in 2014, part of a broader effort to combat corruption linked to foreign officials.

Notably, Portnov served as deputy head of the administration under Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president of Ukraine who was ousted in 2014 following widespread protests. During his tenure, he also held the position of head of the Main Directorate for Judicial Reform and Judicial System, along with being a board member of the National Bank of Ukraine. Yanukovych, once aligned with Russia, fled to Russia along with Portnov and other officials amid the pro-European Maidan protests that swept Ukraine.

It is worth noting that the Security Service of Ukraine had previously investigated Portnov's potential involvement in Russia’s annexation of Crimea. However, this case was eventually closed. Following the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Portnov fled the country, despite draft restrictions that prevented men of military age from leaving Ukraine.

The ramifications of Portnov's actions have not gone unnoticed in his home country, where a petition was launched in December 2024, calling for sanctions against him. This petition garnered significant attention, amassing 25,000 signatures. It highlighted ongoing concerns regarding his attempts to influence the judiciary and intimidate critical journalists through lawsuits and threats. However, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers deemed the evidence insufficient to impose sanctions.

The assassination of Portnov is not an isolated incident. It follows a troubling pattern involving allies of Yanukovych facing violent ends after his ouster. In 2015, CNN reported on the deaths of two individuals closely associated with Yanukovych—one a former member of parliament and the other a journalist known for pro-Russian sentiments. These killings sparked speculation about possible conspiracies against Yanukovych's associates.

As investigations into Portnov's murder unfold, it remains to be seen how this event will impact the delicate political landscape both in Ukraine and abroad. The judicial police were promptly deployed to the scene outside The American School in Madrid as they began their inquiries into this shocking act of violence.