Suspect in murder of former Ukrainian politician detained in Germany by Spanish police
Spain's National Police have announced that an individual has been detained in Germany on suspicion of murdering Andrii Portnov, a pro-Russian politician and former deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office, in May 2025.
Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by the Spanish police
Details: Agents from the 5th Homicide Investigation Unit of the Madrid Police Headquarters travelled to a German city, where they arrested the suspect. They were working in cooperation with a special operations unit from Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office.
The investigators believe the detainee is the individual who shot Andrii Portnov.
A European arrest warrant has been issued, along with a European investigation order authorising a search of the suspect's residence.
Spanish law enforcement officials added that the investigation is ongoing in order to fully establish the circumstances of the case.
Background:
- Andrii Portnov, a former adviser of ex-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead outside an American school in Madrid on 21 May 2025.
- Shortly after the murder, a Spanish court ordered the investigation into Portnov's murder to be classified.
- Portnov served as first deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office under Yanukovych. It was reported in July 2022 that he had left Ukraine via Zakarpattia.
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