NewsWar criminals flaunt at Moscow Victory Parade beside Putin
War criminals flaunt at Moscow Victory Parade beside Putin
During Thursday's Victory Parade in Moscow, marking the 79th anniversary of World War II's end, officers accused of war crimes in Ukraine were notably positioned behind Russian President Vladimir Putin. Colonel Azatbek Omurbekow, known as the "Butcher of Bucha," led a tank column in the Victory Parade in Khabarovsk, Siberia.
5:42 AM EDT, May 10, 2024
First Lieutenant Chalym Chuldum-ool and Major Boris Dudko, implicated in the mistreatment of Yahidne villagers in the Chernihiv region and crimes in Bucha near Kyiv in March 2022, were seated close to Putin. Both were awarded the title of "Heroes of Russia," with the agency adding a photo showing Putin amidst these officers.
Chuldum-ool, hailing from the Siberian Republic of Tuva, was recognized for his role in the 55th Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade, linked to the Yahidne crime. Russian media celebrated his "heroic stance" in December 2023 in the Donetsk region, where he reportedly destroyed two vehicles with Ukrainian soldiers using a grenade launcher and then personally shot around ten soldiers.
Dudko, the deputy commander of the 124th Independent Tank Battalion in the 76th Airborne Assault Division, also received mention. This division, stationed in Pskov, Russia, was involved in Bucha's atrocities.
Additionally, Captain Sergei Bacherikov, seated behind Putin, was noted for participating in the Ukrainian invasion.
"The Butcher of Bucha" Led a Column of Tanks
"Colonel Azatbek Omurbekow of the Russian army, infamous as the 'butcher of Bucha,' spearheaded a column of tanks at the Victory Day parade in Khabarovsk, Siberia," reported ASTRA on Telegram.
Omurbekow is accused of ordering his troops to execute any Bucha residents found with a phone, the independent channel explained. ASTRA also noted Omurbekow's participation in the previous year's Khabarovsk victory parade.
In November 2023, the U.S. State Department sanctioned Omurbekow, prohibiting him and his family from entering the United States. He faced sanctions due to his involvement in the murder of unarmed civilians in Andriivka, near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The 64th Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade under his command, notorious for its early occupation of Bucha and subsequent atrocities against civilians, was celebrated by Putin, earning Omurbekow his grim nickname.
