Capitol riot suspect granted asylum in Belarus after fleeing US – CBS Baltimore

(CNN) – A US Capitol riot suspect who fled the US has been granted asylum in Belarus, according to Belarusian state broadcaster BelTA.

California man, Evan Neumann, has traveled to Europe after being charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Neumann originally settled in Ukraine, he said in an interview in November, but he claims he walked to Belarus after noticing that Ukrainian authorities were spying on him.

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“I have mixed emotions today,” Neumann told BelTA on Tuesday. “I am very happy that Belarus has taken an interest in me. I am very sad to find myself in a situation where I have problems in my own country.”

BelTA wrote on social media that Neumann had been forced out of the United States because of “politically motivated allegations.” BelTA also posted a picture of Neumann with a government official, shaking hands and holding his new passport.

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A federal grand jury in Washington indicted Neumann in December on 14 counts, including assaulting a police officer and participating in physical violence on Capitol grounds. Neumann allegedly punched two officers at the Capitol on January 6 and used a metal barricade as a “whip” to attack officers trying to stop the crowd.

Neumann does not have an attorney, according to court records. As recently as two weeks ago, the court listed him as a “fever”.

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