Latest news with #AmericanSchoolofMadrid
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Controversial ex-Ukrainian official shot dead in Madrid
KYIV — The fatal shooting of Andriy Portnov, a former top Ukrainian official, in a Madrid suburb has triggered a wave of speculation and little public sympathy in his home country, where he is widely viewed as a symbol of systemic corruption and Russian influence. Portnov, 51, was gunned down in a parking lot after dropping off his children at the American School of Madrid. Spanish police found him lying face down in gym clothes. While shocking, the killing has not sparked mourning in Ukraine, where media outlets and commentators have focused on his controversial legacy rather than the circumstances of his death. Often referred to as the architect of a judicial system that critics say protected corruption and undermined reform, Portnov held powerful roles during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted during Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration has made no comment on the killing, while some security sources are reportedly distancing Kyiv from involvement. Although Ukraine has carried out targeted killings in Russian-occupied territories and inside Russia, a politically motivated assassination in Spain would mark a significant media have also speculated that the motive may have been personal or financial, rather than critics describe him as a manipulative power broker with deep ties to pro-Kremlin serving as legal adviser to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, he switched sides in 2010 to join Yanukovych's administration, rising to become deputy head of the presidential was instrumental in shaping Ukraine's legal framework during a time when Western governments, including the U.S., accused his office of manipulating court decisions and planting loyal rights monitors and journalists accuse him of using the courts to silence dissent. 'When people exposed his corruption, he accused them of fake news,' said Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass reporters say he used threats and defamation lawsuits to target media outlets and individual the fall of Yanukovych, Portnov moved to Moscow and was later found to have ties to Kremlin-backed media and intelligence-linked operations. In 2019, he briefly returned to Ukraine before fleeing again in being sanctioned by the U.S. for judicial interference and alleged corrupt activities, Portnov lived openly in Europe in recent years, even enrolling his children in one of Spain's most prestigious private presence in Spain and his death have raised questions about how he continued to move freely despite his theories swirl over whether Russian intelligence, criminal networks, or private enemies were behind the killing, legal expert Mykhailo Zhernakov says Portnov's death should not be mistaken for justice.'Just because he's gone doesn't mean his influence has,' he said, warning that many of the officials Portnov once empowered remain entrenched in Ukraine's legal system.
Dubai Eye
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead outside school in Madrid
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a former Ukrainian politician on Wednesday outside a school in a wealthy suburb of Madrid, Spain's Interior Ministry said. Andriy Portnov, 51, was previously a senior aide to a pro-Russian former Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted in a 2014 popular uprising. Police reached the scene after receiving calls at 9:15 AM (0715 GMT) about a man with gunshot wounds on the street outside the American School of Madrid, in the Pozuelode Alarcon suburb west of the capital, police officials told Reuters. "Several persons shot him in the back and the head and then fled towards a forested area," an Interior Ministry source said. When emergency services arrived they found Portnov dead with at least three gunshot wounds, a spokesperson said. Portnov left for Russia in 2014 and faced investigations in Ukraine over accusations of treason and embezzlement. He was targeted with European Union sanctions, although those and the charges were later dropped. The US Treasury Department put Portnov on its sanctions list in 2021, saying he had "cultivated extensive connections to Ukraine's judicial and law enforcement apparatus through bribery". The American School said it believed the victim was a father of children at the school but was waiting for formal identification by the police, according to a letter sent to parents. It said police were on campus interviewing parents who witnessed the incident. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been several high-profile crimes related to Russia and Ukraine in Spain, which has significant expatriate communities from both countries. In 2022 a retired Spanish civil servant sent six letter bombs to targets around Spain, including to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Ukrainian and US embassies and government offices. Pompeyo Gonzalez Pascual was convicted and jailed for the offences last year. In February 2024, a Russian pilot who had defected to Ukraine with his helicopter was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking garage of his apartment block near Alicante in southeastern Spain.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Adviser to former Ukrainian president shot dead in Madrid while on school run
©Evening Standard An adviser to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was shot dead when gunmen targeted him outside the American School of Madrid, Spanish authorities have said. Andriy Portnov (52) was identified as the victim by Spain's interior ministry. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead in Madrid
MADRID: Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a former Ukrainian politician Wednesday morning outside a school in a wealthy suburb of Madrid, Spain's interior ministry said. Police received a call about the shooting of a Ukrainian citizen at 9.15am outside the elite American School of Madrid, located in Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid police said. "Several persons shot him in the back and the head and then fled towards a forested area," an interior ministry source said. The victim, Andriy Portnov , 51, was a senior aide to Ukraine's pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovich who was ousted in a 2014 popular uprising. Portnov left for Russia the same year and has faced investigations in Ukraine over accusations of treason and embezzlement, as well as international sanctions, although the charges and EU sanctions were later dropped. The US treasury department put him on sanctions list in 2021. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there have been several high-profile crimes involving Russians and Ukrainians in Spain. Reuters
United News of India
21-05-2025
- United News of India
Ukrainian man shot dead outside of Madrid American school
Madrid, May 21 (UNI) Spanish National Police have launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 52-year-old Ukrainian man outside the American School of Madrid in the commuter town of Pozuelo de Alarcon on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 09:15 local time (08:15 GMT). Emergency services pronounced the victim dead at the scene after he sustained four gunshot wounds to the chest and a fatal shot to the head -- injuries described as "incompatible with life." The school was immediately placed under lockdown as a precaution. No further injuries have been reported. Parents told local media that the victim was the father of a student at the school. Although the investigation is ongoing, early police reports suggested the attacker was waiting on a motorcycle for the victim, whom Spanish radio station Cadena Ser has identified as Andriy Portnov, a former advisor to ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. UNI XINHUA GNK
