Californian Evan Neumann, a US Capitol riot suspect who fled the United States – where he claims he has been the subject of political persecution – in March 2021, has been granted refugee status in Belarus, where he arrived during the summer last year.
He has been granted permission to remain in the country indefinitely and the head of the Brest police migration directorate, Yuryy Brazinski, explained that Neumann will eventually be entitled to apply for citizenship.
Neumann has been on the run since he was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list for allegedly assaulting cops during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, leaving the US on the advice from his lawyer to see what will happen with his legal case since no court proceedings were carried out at that time.
He told Belarusian state-owned television BelTA on Tuesday that he has mixed feelings being glad that Belarus took care of him and upset for being in a situation where he has problems in his own country.
Noting that he has started a life in Belarus, Neumann said that he has plans to move his family there, adding that, however, the decision would ultimately be up to his wife.
BelTA also posted images of Neumann holding his new travel documents, explaining on social media that he had been forced to leave the US because of politically motivated charges.
Neumann was indicted in December on 14 charges by a federal grand jury in Washington, including assaulting a police officer for punching two officers and engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds where he used a metal barricade as a battering ram to strike policemen trying to stop the mob.
The court listed him as a fugitive two weeks ago.
The US has imposed Belarus, led by authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, multiple sanctions over its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the alleged human rights abuses.
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