US State Secretary Blinken unveils sanctions against ‘Butcher of Bucha’ and accomplice
The United States has imposed sanctions on two Russian military personnel connected to the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian towns of Bucha, near the capital Kyiv, and Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast.
Among those sanctioned is Colonel Azatbek Omurbekov of the Russian Armed Forces, known as the “Butcher of Bucha.” The sanctions are a result of his involvement in human rights violations, particularly the killings of unarmed Ukrainian citizens in Andriivka.
Read also: SBU charges five Russian paratroopers who shot at car, killed civilian during Bucha occupation
The list also includes occupant Daniil Frolkin, responsible for the death of an unarmed Ukrainian civilian. As a consequence of the sanctions, Omurbekov, Frolkin, and their immediate relatives are now barred from entering the United States.
Omurbekov was the commander of the Russian 64th Separate Motorized Brigade during the period when Russian forces controlled the Ukrainian town of Andriivka, said Blinken. Subsequently, Omurbekov led the brigade to Bucha, where atrocities, including killings, torture, burning, and simulated executions of peaceful residents, were committed.
Read also: Bucha Summit participants denounce Russia’s war crimes, call for justice
“Reports of Omurbekov and Frolkin’s involvement in human rights violations, documented by non-governmental organizations and independent investigations, are serious and deserve trust,” said Blinken. “The public acknowledgment of their involvement underscores the United States’ commitment to human rights and recognition of the injustice suffered by the victims.”
Blinken reiterated the commitment of the United States to hold Russia accountable for its actions against Ukraine. He vowed to employ all available means to achieve justice, stating, “We stand with Ukraine in its struggle for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rule of law.”
In the aftermath of Russian occupiers’ retreat from Kyiv Oblast, the discovery of civilian bodies in Bucha, Irpin, and on the Zhytomyr highway shocked the world. In Kyiv Oblast alone, the bodies of 1,348 civilians murdered by the Russian army were discovered after the liberation of the region, bodies, with 458 of them having been killed in Bucha.
Investigations point to the 64th Separate Motorized Brigade, stationed in the city, as being responsible for the atrocities in Bucha. Following these heinous acts, Russian President Vladimir Putin bestowed the brigade with the honorary title of “Guards,” and its commander, Azatbek Omurbekov, received a promotion.
Read also: South Korean president visits Bucha, witnesses sites of Russian army atrocities
The actions of the Russian army drew condemnation from Western leaders, who called for thorough investigations and accountability. Simultaneously, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions against Omurbekov, signaling international repercussions for those involved in the atrocities.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
