U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Two Russian Military Officials for Human Rights Violations

Two military officials from Russia have been sanctioned by the US due to their “participation in egregious human rights violations” in Ukraine.

Guard Corporal Daniil Frolkin and Russian Armed Forces Col. Azatbek Omurbekov, dubbed “The Butcher of Bucha,” were both denied visas by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Their involvement in the extrajudicial killings of civilians in Andriivka, Ukraine, resulted in their sanctions.

“Omurbekov, Frolkin, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the United States as a result of today’s action,” the top US diplomat declared.

According to the statement, Omurbekov “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.” Omurbekov commanded Russia’s 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade during its control over Andriivka.

In June 2022, the State Department imposed sanctions on the entire unit due to human rights violations.

“The reports that Omurbekov and Frolkin were involved in gross violations of human rights, as documented by NGOs and independent investigations, are serious and credible,” Blinken stated in his statement on Monday.

The United States “reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, acknowledging the injustice experienced by victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations” by publicly designating Omurbekov and Frolkin, he said.

A report on CNN states that Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that the United States had placed visa restrictions on two Russian military officials because of their “participation in flagrant violations of human rights” in Ukraine.

Blinken said in a statement that Col. Azatbek Omurbekov of the Russian Armed Forces, popularly known as “The Butcher of Bucha,” and Guard Corporal Daniil Frolkin had been sanctioned for their roles in the extrajudicial killings of civilians from Andriivka, Ukraine.

“Omurbekov, Frolkin, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the United States as a result of today’s action,” the top US diplomat declared.

According to the statement, Omurbekov “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.” Omurbekov commanded Russia’s 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade during its control over Andriivka.

In June 2022, the State Department imposed sanctions on the entire unit due to human rights violations.

A former brigade soldier who deserted in September 2022 and fled to Europe was interviewed by CNN in December.

Maniacs exist who take pleasure in killing men. There were such crazy people there, he claimed.

“The reports that Omurbekov and Frolkin were involved in gross violations of human rights, as documented by NGOs and independent investigations, are serious and credible,” Blinken stated in his statement on Monday.

The United States “reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, acknowledging the injustice experienced by victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations” by publicly designating Omurbekov and Frolkin, he said.

The new visa restrictions were announced on the same day that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin unexpectedly traveled to Ukraine to reaffirm US support for the country.

In a briefing with the traveling press, senior defense officials underlined the significance of Austin’s visit and the message it sends that the US will stand by Ukraine in the face of other difficulties, particularly in the Middle East with Israel’s conflict with Hamas.

Austin promised to provide Ukraine with an extra $100 million in security support during his visit. He emphasized that in order to help both Israel and Ukraine, Congress must approve President Joe Biden’s request for additional funding.

CNN interview with former soldier

Chibrin, a former soldier from Yakutsk, Russia, claims to have been a member of the infamous 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, which is suspected of war crimes committed during its offensive through Bucha, Borodianka, and other towns and villages north of Kyiv.

In September, he left the Russian military and fled through Belarus and Kazakhstan to Europe.

According to Nikita Chibrin, he can still clearly recall other Russian soldiers fleeing their deployment area northwest of Kiev in March after being accused of raping two Ukrainian women.

“After observing them flee, I discovered they were rapists. A mother and a daughter were raped by them, he claimed. When they learned about the rapes, their commanders, according to Chibrin, shrugged. He claims that although the accused rapists were physically assaulted, their crimes went unpunished.

They never saw a jail cell. Just dismissed. In an instant, “Go!” They were merely kicked out of the conflict. That concludes it.

After Russian forces withdrew from the Kyiv region, mass graves containing dead bodies lying in the streets and murdered civilians were discovered. This led the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to declare troops from Chibrin’s brigade war criminals in April.

According to Chibrin’s military records, which CNN obtained, Azatbek Omurbekov, the commander of the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, was his superior. The United Kingdom and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Omurbekov, also referred to as the “Butcher of Bucha.” The entire brigade is sanctioned by the US.

The Kremlin has reiterated its unfounded allegations that the photos of civilian bodies were staged while denying any role in the mass murders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the unit an honorary military title and commended it for its “bold actions” and “heroism,” a move that caused outrage throughout the world.

Chibrin claimed to have witnessed numerous crimes rather than any of the purported bravery.

In an interview with CNN from a European nation where he has applied for asylum, he listed some of the crimes he claims to have seen or heard about and stated that he would be ready to testify against his unit in front of an international criminal court. He insists that he didn’t commit any crimes.