Evan Neumann, who was indicted on 14 counts in relation to the January 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol, has acquired refugee standing in Belarus.
Neumann, 49, fled the nation in February 2021, and a federal arrest warrant was issued for him in December, based on the FBI. He instructed Gazeta, a Russian information website, he feels he's secure in Belarus.
Neumann is one in every of a whole bunch of individuals to be charged in reference to the riot, which left 5 individuals lifeless and launched a Home choose committee's investigation, which is inspecting the actions of former President Donald Trump and his allies on the day of the assault. Although the riot occurred greater than a yr in the past, the arrests and trials for alleged perpetrators proceed.
Neumann is charged with participating in bodily violence in a restricted constructing with a lethal or harmful weapon; civil dysfunction; assaulting, resisting or impeding sure officers; and extra, the FBI reported.
Video footage from the riot confirmed what seemed to be Neumann sporting a fuel masks, based on a December launch from the Division of Justice. After taking off the masks, the person started "verbally abusing" regulation enforcement officers defending the Capitol constructing. He says they are going to be "overrun," including, "I am prepared to die, are you?"
The discharge mentioned that Neumann allegedly took a steel barricade and "shoved it into the road of officers," hanging them with the barricade and his fist. The discharge additionally mentioned he used the barricade as a "battering ram," finally getting into the constructing and refusing orders from police to depart the Capitol grounds. He allegedly assaulted 4 officers whereas on the grounds.
Neumann instructed a Belarusian TV station he fled the U.S. in March 2021 underneath recommendation from his lawyer, touring by means of Europe to get to Ukraine, the place he lived for a number of months, CBS Information reported. After claiming Ukraine's safety service was surveilling him, he crossed the border into Belarus on foot, he mentioned.
Throughout the TV station interview, Neumann mentioned that he was harmless and that the U.S. authorities was persecuting him, based on CBS.
He instructed Gazeta that whereas he feels "calm" and likes it in Belarus, he has "blended emotions" about being there. He mentioned he's "glad as a result of Belarus took care of me" however is upset that he was "in such a state of affairs" within the first place.
It's unclear if there shall be any political ramifications for Neumann being in Belarus, because the nation is an ally of Russia, making Belarus the topic of sanctions from the U.S. and different international locations for failing to sentence Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched an announcement condemning each the Russian and Belarusian governments.
"The Lukashenka regime in Belarus continues its violent repression in opposition to civil society, anti-war protestors, the democratic opposition, unbiased media, and peculiar Belarusians," he wrote.
At present, the State Division places its journey advisory for Belarus at a degree 4, the very best degree, which means it encourages all People to not journey there. People already there are inspired to depart.
Replace 03/22/22, 12:25 p.m. ET: This story was up to date so as to add extra data and background.
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