this post was submitted on 21 May 2025
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Andrii Portnov, a former member of parliament in Ukraine, was sanctioned by the US over corruption allegations. He was shot dead outside a school in Madrid.

Spain's Interior Ministry on Wednesday said Andrii Portnov, an adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was killed outside a school in Madrid.

According to the police, they received a call about the shooting of a Ukrainian citizen near the elite American School of Madrid in Pozuelo de Alarcón at 9:15 a.m. local time (0715 GMT).

Police said Portnov was shot multiple times in the head and back by more than one gunman while getting into a vehicle. The attackers then fled toward a forested area, police added.

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[–] Skiluros 39 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Portnov was a piece of shit. Russian collaborator.

I would rather he was extradited, all his assets seized and he would be required to do several decades community service work (live-in janitor in a hospice centre or de-mining work, community service work in Chernobyl would work too).

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

How was he just hanging out in Spain I wonder, seems like the kinda country that would boot him quick

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

seems like the kinda country that would boot him quick

If Spain expelled corrupt rich foreigners and gangsters, the Costa del Sol would be nearly unpopulated.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Options 2 and 3 are literal war crimes. You might as well just be happy with the extrajudicial murder.

[–] Skiluros 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

How so? You do realize regular people work in the Chernobyl zone (for pay, they are not forced).

Same with de-mining work. There are military and police forces who are doing de-mining as part of their duties.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

At least in the case of POWs, forcing captives to do life-threatening work is a specifically defined warcrime. De-mining is Example A for this.

[–] Skiluros 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Portnov is a POW? This is news to me.

He is a local corrupt oligarch and russian collaborator.

Since when is it a war crime to require community service for high corruption and treason?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you're willing to forego both the law and basic ethics because he's a traitor, again, you should just be happy with the extrajudicial kill squad.

[–] Skiluros 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

While I agree with you that as Ukrainian law stands today that would not be viable, I don't see how I am being unethical.

Portniv knowingly (in a premeditated and genuine manner) contributed to mass killing and torture of Ukrainians at the hands of the russians (not to mention the mass scale destruction and life disruption for 10s of millions). Requiring community for a few decades is not a breach of ethics in any way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It depends on your view of ethics. Most people want to see evil suffer while some prefer the nihilistic approach where the threat is just dealt with. The latter is chosen because it lacks emotions, is logical and protects innocent people who are falsely convinced to the minimal degree.

[–] Skiluros 1 points 1 week ago

It depends on your view of ethics.

Exactly! If you have a superficial view of ethics that does not account for reality, you will have a very simplistic view. If you are willing to look at what is actually happening on the ground, you will have a more sophisticated understanding of ethics that goes beyond theatrics.

The issue of collaboration is very a complex topic. There are many cases where low level collaboration (if motivated by factors other than support for russian genocidal imperialism) should likely be dealt with a simple affidavit requiring the individual to confirm that should ideological motivation for collaboration be identified at future date, they will have problems.

With Portnov, there is no complexity. It is a clear cut case. Open and committed treason and support for russian genocidal imperialism.

When you are a smaller country fighting for centuries against a brutal genocidal imperialist population, you need to act in a manner that greatly reduces the incentives for high level collaboration.

[–] atzanteol 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

for pay, they are not forced

🤔

[–] Skiluros 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

My man, I don't know how much you've travelled/lived around the world, but in many places the calculus for making a living has its own equations.

Working in Chernobyl has a massive pay differential for the same job compared to the rest of the country. Some people are desperate.

[–] atzanteol 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My man - there is a world of difference between "I took this job out of desperation" and "I am literally enslaved and forced to do this job for no compensation."

[–] Skiluros 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Should have not engaged in corruption and worked as an agent for the russians. It's not a difficult choice.

[–] atzanteol 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I love how quickly most people simply discard their principles the moment they like or dislike the person affected by the rules. It's exactly how Trump operates.

[–] Skiluros 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Not at all.

For you this is all theoretical. My priority is dealing with the russian invasion and that is why I support increasing the costs for collaborators.

That doesn't mean I support torture or targeting civilians even if the overwhelming majority of russian civilians are committed genocidal imperialists and generally lack humanity.

But you are welcome to believe whatever you want. Just sharing a different perspective.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

War crimes if you force enemy soldiers to do it. Technically forcing enemy soldiers to do anything at all is a war crime.

Not war crimes if it's community service ordered by a judge due to conviction for crimes committed by the subject.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

In what country is fucking de-mining "community service?"

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Any country riddled with landmines. They're the only ones that need it.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And the world lost nothing of value.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

World, not. Russians, yes - they lost an asset.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

What was he doing in a NATO country in the first place? Sounds like the authorities were asleep at the wheel.