OPINION: Why One of Ukraine's Shadiest Political Operators Has Eluded Sanctions [article by Maryna Shashkova, August 27, 2023]
EXCERPTS:
Who is Andriy Portnov?
Portnov began his legal career in the 1990s in his home city of Luhansk, with the help, according to an investigation by Liga.net, of local authorities engaged in criminal activity.
Portnov was also getting acquainted with Kyiv's political elite and formed a close relationship with Viktor Medvedchuk, then a lawmaker, very rich powerbroker and close friend of Vladimir Putin, once dubbed the "dark prince" of Ukrainian politics.
[Portnov's] rising profile and reputation attracted further opportunities, and in 2005 he joined the team of Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc party and the main competitor of the then-president Viktor Yushchenko.
Despite working for and alongside Tymoshenko, Portnov over the coming years moved increasingly closer to the man who would become her main rival in the 2010 presidential election and one of Ukraine's most controversial politicians in the years after - Viktor Yanukovych.
In 2014, Yanukovych would flee to Russia during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, but in the years preceding his presidential election victory in 2010, he and Portnov gained a reputation for working together to pressure and exert influence on the country's judges.
After Yanukovych became president, Portnov "betrayed" Tymoshenko and joined the new president's team, taking charge of judicial reform.
Shortly after, the Ukraine's prosecutor general opened a number of criminal proceedings against Tymoshenko and she would be jailed in 2011.
In a tweet posted in June 2011, Tymoshenko accused Portnov of being part of a conspiracy to engineer her sentence.
The episode would set the tone for Portnov's time in charge of judicial reform - a massive overhaul of the entire system was undertaken and, according to reports, "not a single judge of the district court in the city of Kyiv was appointed without a personal interview and consent from Portnov."
This appointment of judges loyal to Portnov and the president would pay off, and a number of court cases would rule in his favor, including one in 2014 about his alleged involvement in the deaths of activists during the Euromaidan protests.
Fleeing Ukraine
Portnov's career as well as the public's attitude toward him took a dramatic turn during the Euromaidan protests, when he was instrumental in the drafting of the notorious "Dictatorship Laws" of Jan. 16, 2014, legislation enacted by then-President Yanukovych in an attempt to quell the protests against his rule. The laws were essentially identical to similar legislation enacted in Russia a little more than a year earlier.
The new laws provoked the generally peaceful protesters to turn violent, and the legislation was largely cancelled within a fortnight. But by that point Yanukovych had lost all credibility, and within a month he tried to crush the protests, leading to more than 100 civilians shot dead by security forces.
Both Yanukovych and Portnov fled to Russia.
“Both Yanukovych and Portnov fled to Russia.”
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Many overlook the historical Putin manipulation of Ukrainian government. Ukraine corruption? Thy name is Putin.
Kind of a funny larger story. Seemingly pro-Putin before 2022, he turned away when elected mayor of Odessa. And then is caught up in corruption scandals in Ukraine.Sure seems like corruption is found overall. Most interesting that many of these "invested" in London properties as well. And some legal actions are underway in Switzerland to attach oligarch funds there, though it goes slowly."A Ukrainian crime gang used offshore firms in British tax havens to secretly invest millions of pounds in the UK, a BBC Panorama investigation has found. The gangsters, and in some cases family members, bought luxurious property in prime London locations, including a £12.5m flat. The daughter of a man dubbed the 'Don of Odessa' is the registered owner of three homes in one expensive block." 23 April 2018
Paradise Papers: Ukraine crime gang hid proceeds in luxury London flats
"Trukhanov defended his pivot in a Tuesday interview with the English-language Independent. He explained that when he became mayor of Odesa, Ukraine's third-largest city, he 'took an oath of allegiance' to the Ukrainian people, which he said is important to him." 17 May 2022
Pro-Russia Mayor of Ukraine's 'Crime Capital' Turns His Back on Putin
"Trukhanov is a controversial politician who was elected to the top office in Odesa, a center for Ukrainian shipbuilding and trade, in 2014. In the early stages of his career, he was aligned with pro-Moscow political parties, but in recent years he positioned himself as an advocate of Odesa's economic growth. His critics have accused him of running a corrupt city hall. The NABU has investigated a number of alleged embezzlement cases in Odesa municipality, with Trukhanov’s involvement."
Mayor of Odesa Gennadiy Trukhanov Arrested in Connection with Embezzlement Charges 4 May 2023
"The central government hopes to use the provisions of martial law to root out corruption at the local level while getting rid of inconvenient regional politicians at the same time. It’s true that Ukraine’s mayors are often corrupt, but by targeting individuals, the government is increasingly undermining the very idea of local self-government." 25 May 2023
Ukraine’s Other Battle: Zelensky vs. the Mayors
Most recently....
"The Italian Ambassador to Ukraine, Pier Francesco Zazo, and the Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Davide La Cecilia, are today on a mission to Odessa together with the President of the Triennale, architect Stefano Boeri, the President of MAXXI, Alessandro Giuli, the Mayor of Odessa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, and the Head of the UNESCO Desk in Ukraine, Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi. The visit is part of an initiative by the Triennale and MAXXI, supported by Italian Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Culture, to set up a Workshop on the Reconstruction of Ukraine."
And apparently still mayor...
"According to Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, the decision to restore access to Primorsky Boulevard was agreed with the military. This decision will allow Odesa residents and guests to enjoy walking in one of the most beautiful places in the city without any obstacles." 8 October 2023.