Former Ukrainian government official Andriy Portnov, who was murdered in Madrid, Spain, on May 21, had reportedly visited Ukraine just days before his death, according to Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.
Portnov, who was an advisor to ousted former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, is said to have visited Ukraine on May 17 and 18, where he reportedly met with some of the top law enforcement officials in the country.
Portnov, who fled Ukraine in 2014 after Yanukovych was ousted from power, had been a key proponent of the anti-protest laws during the protests and violence that occurred in late 2013 and early 2014. He served as Yanukovych’s deputy chief of staff responsible for the judiciary and head of the administration's legal department.
He returned to Ukraine in 2019 but left again following the start of Russia’s special military operation, eventually settling in Spain.
The Ukrainian media did not disclose with whom Portnov had met or which departments were involved. However, it is possible that he met with officials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) due to the agency’s historically close ties with the former Yanukovych government.
While other intelligence and security agencies were reportedly purged of pro-Yanukovych officials, the SBU has not been completely purged and is believed to still maintain links with exiled former Ukrainian officials.
Portnov’s murder, along with revelations of his recent visit to Ukraine, has led to speculation that he was assassinated by the Ukrainian government, who may have viewed him as a threat to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration.
Zelensky, whose constitutional term as president expired last year, has remained in power by citing that elections cannot be held while the country is under martial law. Russia has repeatedly challenged his legitimacy, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov once again stating today that any potential peace document signed by Zelensky would come under heavy scrutiny.