Latest news with #AndriiPortnov
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Spain rejects Ukraine's bid for joint probe into pro-Russian politician Portnov's murder
Spanish law enforcement has declined Ukraine's proposal to form a joint task force to investigate the murder of Andrii Portnov, a lawyer and influential figure linked to Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian former president of Ukraine who fled the country after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Source: Ukrainska Pravda article Without trial or investigation. What was Andrii Portnov doing on the eve of his murder? Quote: "Following Portnov's murder, Ukraine proposed forming a joint investigative group with Spanish law enforcement, but the offer was rejected. Spanish investigators have not ruled out the involvement of Ukrainian security services." Details: Sources cited by Ukrainska Pravda suggest two possible motives for Ukraine's interest in a joint investigation. One is to access investigative materials, including Portnov's phones and gadgets, which may contain sensitive information. The other is a desire, particularly from Oleh Tatarov, a key figure overseeing Ukraine's law enforcement, to expedite the investigation and clarify the circumstances of the killing. The Spanish authorities have also refused to release Portnov's body to Ukraine, with expectations that this might occur early next week, according to the publication. For reference: Portnov was deputy head of the presidential administration under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2010-2014. He denied crimes committed by security forces against participants of the Revolution of Dignity in the winter of 2013-2014 and fled Ukraine. He returned in 2019 on the eve of the inauguration of newly elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Portnov was also considered an influential shadow handler of Ukrainian courts. In 2018, criminal proceedings were opened against Portnov for treason. However, in 2019, Portnov stated on his Telegram that the Security Service of Ukraine had closed the criminal case against him, and published the relevant documents. In 2019, investigative journalists released recordings of conversations from the office of the notorious judge Pavlo Vovk. From the conversations on the tapes, journalists extrapolated that Portnov, together with Vovk and the then head of the President's Office, Andrii Bohdan, illegally influenced the dismissal of the head of the Constitutional Court, Stanislav Shevchuk. In April 2020, at the beginning of Iryna Venediktova's term as Prosecutor General, Portnov blackmailed her, saying that he had compromising information about her illegal activities. In the same year, Oleksandr Sokolov, then acting director of the State Bureau of Investigations, admitted that there were "influence groups" within law enforcement agencies that disclosed confidential information and important details of investigations to former officials, including Portnov. In December 2021, it became known that the US government had imposed sanctions against Andrii Portnov and his charitable foundation. Portnov was 51 years old. Background: Portnov was shot dead on 21 May 2025 outside the American School in Madrid's Pozuelo de Alarcón suburb, shortly after dropping off his children. Spanish police suspect the attack was meticulously planned, possibly by a professional assassin using a silenced pistol, with at least one accomplice and a prearranged escape route. No arrests have been made and motives under consideration include organised crime and political retribution. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pro-Russian public figure Portnov met with some Ukrainian top officials on eve of his murder
Andrii Portnov, a shadow handler of the Ukrainian court system and a lawyer close to the fugitive former president Yanukovych, visited Ukraine a few days before his murder in Madrid. There he met with Oleh Tatarov, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, and Oleksii Sukhachov, Director of the State Bureau of Investigation. Source: Ukrainska Pravda article Without trial or investigation. What was Andrii Portnov doing on the eve of his murder? Details: Four independent sources confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that Portnov was in Ukraine on 17-18 May. It was also noted that Portnov had had meetings with top officials during those days. Quote from the article: "During this visit, Portnov met with top officials responsible for law enforcement, including Oleh Tatarov, Deputy Head of the President's Office, and Oleksii Sukhachov, Director of the State Bureau of Investigation." Details: Meanwhile, all of the sources stated that they did not know what topics were discussed at these meetings. For reference: Portnov was deputy head of the presidential administration under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2010-2014. He denied crimes committed by security forces against participants in the Revolution of Dignity in the winter of 2013-2014 and fled Ukraine. He returned in 2019 on the eve of the inauguration of newly elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Portnov was also considered an influential shadow handler of Ukrainian courts. In 2018, criminal proceedings were opened against Portnov for treason. However, in 2019, Portnov stated on his Telegram that the Security Service of Ukraine had closed the criminal case against him, and published the relevant documents. In 2019, investigative journalists released recordings of conversations from the office of the notorious judge Pavlo Vovk. From the conversations on the tapes, journalists extrapolated that Portnov, together with Vovk and the then head of the President's Office, Andrii Bohdan, illegally influenced the dismissal of the head of the Constitutional Court, Stanislav Shevchuk. In April 2020, at the beginning of Iryna Venediktova's term as Prosecutor General, Portnov blackmailed her, saying that he had compromising information about her illegal activities. In the same year, Oleksandr Sokolov, then acting director of the State Bureau of Investigations, admitted that there were "influence groups" within law enforcement agencies that disclosed confidential information and important details of investigations to former officials, including Portnov. In December 2021, it became known that the US government had imposed sanctions against Andrii Portnov and his charitable foundation. Portnov was 51 years old. Background: Portnov was shot dead on the morning of 21 May near an American school in Madrid, Spain. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Toronto Star
21-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Adviser to Ukrainian ex-President Yanukovych shot dead outside American School in Spain
MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities said that an adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was shot dead on Wednesday when gunmen targeted him outside the American School of Madrid. Andrii Portnov, 51, was identified as the victim by Spain's Interior Ministry. He was shot at 9:15 a.m. local time (0715 GMT), authorities said, after apparently dropping his children off for class.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Adviser to ex-Ukrainian president Yanukovych shot dead outside school in Spain
An adviser to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych has been shot dead outside a school in Madrid, Spanish authorities said. Spain's Interior Ministry identified the victim as Andrii Portnov. Advertisement Authorities said he was shot at 9.15am local time (0815 BST). Members of the judicial police at the scene after an adviser to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was shot outside a school in Madrid, Spain (Paul White/AP) Mr Portnov is a former Ukrainian politician closely tied to Mr Yanukovych, having served as deputy head of the presidential office from 2010 to 2014. During Mr Yanukovych's presidency, Mr Portnov was widely viewed as a pro-Russia political figure and was involved in drafting legislation aimed at persecuting participants of the 2014 revolution in Ukraine.
Toronto Star
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
An adviser to Ukrainian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych has been shot dead in Spain
MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities said that an adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was shot dead outside a school in Madrid on Wednesday. Spain's Interior Ministry identified the victim as Andrii Portnov. Authorities said that he was shot at 9:15 a.m. local time (0715 GMT).
