“A man on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for allegedly attacking police during the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot is now seeking asylum in Belarus, the ex-Soviet country’s state-run television reported Sunday. Evan Neumann, 48, is wanted in the United States on charges of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, as well as for assaulting, resisting and obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder. Neumann denies the charges as ‘unfounded.'”
“Neumann sold his California home in spring and was thought to have moved to Ukraine to evade arrest, ABC News reported this summer. ‘Judging by his story, [Neumann] is the same type of simple American whose shops were burned by Black Lives Matter activists,’ a Belarus 1 TV channel presenter said, echoing a common talking point on Russian state television. Neumann ‘sought justice and asked uncomfortable questions’ following the 2020 U.S. elections disputed by ex-President Donald Trump, the presenter added, ‘but lost almost everything and is being persecuted by the U.S. government.’ Belarusian border authorities detained Neumann on the border with Ukraine on Aug. 15, Belarus 1 reported” – Moscow Times.