The incident occurred on May 21 in Pozuelo de alarcon, according to local media.
El Pais newspaper reported that the victim was attacked by two or three people while checking the trunk of his Mercedes near a private school - where his son was studying. Portnov, 51, was shot at least five times, including three in the head. Spanish police have confirmed a murder case in the area but have not yet released the victim's identity.
According to RT, Andrey Portnov is a lawyer and was a member of the Ukrainian parliament from 2006 to 2010. He later joined the administration of President Viktor Yanukovich, holding the position of Deputy Chief of Staff, Advisor to the President and in charge of judicial reform. He played a key role in the development of the new Penal Code passed by Ukraine in 2012.
After the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 that collapsed Yanukovich's regime, Portnov left Ukraine. Although abroad, he has actively participated in political discussions in Ukraine, often appearing on national television.
In 2019, he returned to Ukraine to support then-presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky. After Zelensky was elected, Portnov filed several lawsuits against former President Pyotr Poroshenko with allegations of violations during his term, but none of them led to a verdict. In June 2022, Mr. Portnov once again left Ukraine.
According to Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Mobile Ambassador, the assassination of Portnov could be an ecclessional act. He said the victim could hold information threatening key political figures.
