Topline
The government of Belarus has granted asylum to Evan Neumann, a California man wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots, a move that comes as Belarusian leaders have been targeted by U.S. sanctions for its involvement in aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Key Facts
Neumann had sought asylum in Belarus last year claiming he faced “political persecution” in the U.S.
The BBC, citing a Belarusian official, reported Neumann has been granted permission to remain in the country “indefinitely.”
The Californian, who faces multiple serious criminal charges in the U.S., told Belarusian state-run news agency Belta that he was happy that Belarus “took care” of him but upset about having “problems in my own country.”
According to the BBC report, Belta put out a video of Neumann receiving his asylum documents from a Belarusian official who told him that he was “completely under” the protection of the Belarusian state now.
Key Background
Neumann, a 48-year-old handbag manufacturer from the city of Mill Valley, was charged on six different counts including assaulting an officer and partaking in civil disobedience, both of which are felonies. In November he appeared on Belarusian television where he claimed that he left the U.S. back in March 2021 “under the guise of a business trip,” traveling to Ukraine via Switzerland, Germany and Poland. He managed to rent an apartment in the the city of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, for four months, but fled the country, claiming that he was being regularly tailed by Ukrainian security services. He crossed Ukraine’s northern border into Belarus on foot, where he was detained by authorities for illegally crossing the border.
Further Reading
Evan Neumann: US Capitol riot suspect gets asylum in Belarus (BBC)
Man Wanted By FBI For Capitol Riot Reportedly Seeks Political Asylum In Belarus (Forbes)
