Spanish
Madrid.- Andrei Portnov, former advisor to the ex-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, has been assassinated with six shots in the back after dropping off his daughters at the elite American School of Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) in a crime whose motivation is still under investigation and which could be linked to his support for Russia.
The Spanish National Police continues to search for the author or authors of the shooting, who fled after firing several shots in the back and head at a quarter past nine in the morning this Wednesday.
Portnov, a 52-year-old Ukrainian, was about to get into his vehicle, a high-end black Mercedes parked on the sidewalk, after dropping off his daughters at school.
Before opening the door, without time to react, he has been riddled with bullets to death. His body was found shortly after by a person who alerted the Police.
The perpetrators of the crime have escaped towards the Casa de Campo, a large wooded area that connects Madrid with Pozuelo de Alarcón (an exclusive residential area north of the capital) and, for the moment, have not been arrested, despite the large police operation that is following their trail, supported by aerial means such as helicopters and surveillance drones.
Portnov had temporary residency in Spain due to exceptional circumstances for a year, according to sources close to the investigation who have informed EFE.
Investigated by the EU and sanctioned by the United States
Portnov, a politician and lawyer, was the head of the Administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian leader who fell after the Maidan revolution.
In fact, he was one of the main actors in the Yanukovych government's response to the Ukrainian crisis that began at the end of 2013 and was investigated for misappropriation of public funds and human rights violations.
He was also blacklisted by the EU for these actions and was even investigated by the Ukrainian secret service for his affinity with Russia.
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The General Court of the EU eventually lifted the embargo on his assets and he was exonerated in different cases in Ukraine, although in 2021 the United States imposed sanctions against him for "credible accusations of using his influence" to corrupt the courts and "undermine efforts to reform" Ukraine.
That is why, until now, all hypotheses regarding the motive for the murder are open and none are ruled out.
The Homicide Group V of the Superior Police Headquarters of Madrid has taken charge of the investigation, to which the Provincial Information Brigade has also joined.
"Six shots" and a long beep
Inés, who lives in a university residence located in front of the crime scene, has been startled awake by the sound of "six shots" coming from the street.
Shortly after, he heard a scream and the prolonged honking of a car. Ten minutes later, when the police arrived, he saw Portnov's lifeless body covered in blood.
Before the Scientific Police covered him with a thermal blanket, the student was able to see the attire worn by the victim: a white t-shirt, black pants, and sneakers.
The surroundings of the school have been filled with worried parents who have gone to pick up their children from class, many still in a state of 'shock'.
One of the students at the school heard the shots outside. After a few minutes, the school ordered over the public address system that everyone should lock themselves in the classrooms and, subsequently, issued a statement informing of the situation and assuring that the students were fine.
