US sanctions 2 Russian military officers, including 'Butcher of Bucha'

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US issued sanctions Monday against two Russian military officers for their alleged involvement in human rights violations in Ukraine, including Azatbek Omurbekov, infamously known as "The Butcher of Bucha.”

"The Department of State is designating Azatbek Omurbekov, also known as ‘The Butcher of Bucha,’ a colonel in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the extrajudicial killings of unarmed Ukrainian civilians from Andriivka, Ukraine," said the State Department in a statement.

The other designated officer is Daniil Frolkin, a guard corporal in the Russian Armed Forces, who has been sanctioned for his alleged involvement in a gross violation of human rights, specifically the extrajudicial killing of an unarmed Ukrainian civilian in Andriivka.

"As a result of today’s action, Omurbekov, Frolkin, and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States," said the statement.

According to the statement, Omurbekov was the commanding officer of Russia’s 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade during the period of time that Russia’s forces controlled the Ukrainian town of Andriivka.

"Omurbekov later led the brigade to Bucha, Ukraine, where the Department of State determined that the 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade killed, beat, dismembered, burned and conducted mock executions of civilians," it said.

The department said the US stands committed to promoting accountability for Russia’s abuses and atrocities against the people of Ukraine.

"We will continue to use all appropriate avenues to pursue justice for Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rule of law, for as long as it takes," it added.