Editing Azatbek Omurbekov (section)

== Biography ==
Azatbek Asanbekovich Omurbekov was born on September 17, 1983 in the village of Zhanak, in what is now Kyrgyzstan. Azatbek has stated that, in the future, he intends to return to the system of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan.

In November 2021, he received a blessing from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Omurbekov became well-known to the public after Ukrainian citizen journalism website InformNapalm doxxed the officer, exposing much of his personal information to the public. According to InformNapalm, Omurbekov is a 40-year old lieutenant colonel who was leading the Russian troops during the Battle of Bucha.<ref>[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hunt-russian-commanders-charge-bucha-091727695.html Hunt for Russian commanders in charge of Bucha atrocities as colonel named], ''Yahoo News''</ref> This would make him responsible for the [[Bucha Massacre]], during which Ukrainian civilians in Bucha were massacred and raped by Russian troops, with several mass graves being discovered in the city after Russian forces retreated. The Ukrainian government has claimed that as many as 458 civilians were killed<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-business-criminal-investigations-bed8a5fac1dab4cfcdf45aed815ff510 Bucolic Ukraine forest is site of mass grave exhumation], ''Associated Press''</ref> but an investigation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights estimated that there were only around 178 victims.<ref>[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/situation-human-rights-ukraine-context-armed-attack-russian-federation The situation of human rights in Ukraine in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation, 24 February to 15 May 2022], Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights</ref> ''The Independent'' said it was unable to confirm or verify the claims of Omurbekov's involvement.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/butcher-of-bucha-identified-ukraine-b2052074.html 'Butcher of Bucha' was blessed by the Orthodox Church before 'war crimes'], ''The Independent''</ref> 

Due to his involvement in the Bucha Massacre, Omurbekov has been placed under sanctions by the United Kingdom<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-sets-out-26-new-sanctions-against-russia-2022-04-21/ UK sanctions Russian generals it says have 'blood on their hands'], ''Reuters''</ref> and the European Union.<ref>[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022D0883&from=EN#page=22 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/883]</ref>