Germany: Suspect in Andriy Portnov's murder arrested in Madrid

German authorities, acting in close cooperation with Spanish police, conducted a successful arrest operation in Heinsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, capturing the alleged assassin responsible for the death of Andriy Portnov. Portnov, a former influential politician and lawyer associated with Viktor Yanukovych's pro-Russian camp, was murdered on May 21, 2025, in the upscale Madrid neighborhood of Pozuelo de Alarcón. The tragic incident occurred in the morning, shortly after the 52-year-old Portnov had dropped off his children at the American School of Madrid. The perpetrator fired at least nine shots, several of which struck the politician in the head and back, causing his death on the spot next to his car. The arrest in Heinsberg is the result of a months-long investigation that Spanish authorities classified as secret. According to police sources, the detained man is believed to be the direct executor of the contract, a so-called sicario. According to reports from Spanish media, including the newspaper "El Mundo," the suspect is also from Ukraine, which may shed new light on the motives for the crime. Police conducted a detailed search of the detainee's apartment, securing evidence material that will be analyzed under a European investigation order. Andriy Portnov was a highly controversial figure in Ukrainian politics, serving as deputy head of President Yanukovych's administration until 2014. After the Maidan Revolution, he repeatedly faced prosecutors' charges of treason and corruption, though some of these proceedings were later dropped or suspended. An extradition procedure is currently underway to enable the suspect's transfer to the Spanish justice system. The Cologne prosecutor's office confirmed initiating appropriate legal steps but declined further comment due to the competence of Spanish authorities. Investigators are currently examining whether the perpetrator acted alone or was part of a larger group, as mentioned in early reports from the crime scene suggesting three people fled toward Madrid's Casa de Campo park. „En España nunca llevaba guardaespaldas ni había recibido amenazas... Aquí se sentía muy seguro.” (In Spain, he never had bodyguards nor had he received any threats... He felt very safe here.) — Portnov's widow The Portnov murder case has generated significant emotions from the beginning due to his connections to Moscow and the fact that he was on American sanctions lists for allegedly corrupting Ukraine's judicial system. While initially speculation focused on criminal motives and organized crime score-settling, today's arrest may point to political or retaliatory motives related to the conflict in Ukraine.