An American who has been linked to the January 6 storming of the United States Capitol and faces criminal charges in the country has reportedly sought asylum in Belarus, according to US media reports citing inputs from the country’s state television.

The man, who was identifed as Evan Neumann on the show, was a resident of California‘s Mill Valley and reportedly faced charges like obstruction, assault on police among others, tying him to the Capitol riots. However, he has reportedly rejected the charges.

Small excerpts from an interview with Neumann were aired on Sunday and Monday while the remaining was scheduled to be released on Wednesday.

“I don’t think I have committed some kind of a crime,” said Neumann, 48, according to a Belarus 1 voiceover of his interview remarks.

“One of the charges was very offensive; it alleges that I hit a police officer. It doesn’t have any grounds to it.” Neumann spoke in English but was barely audible under the dubbed Russian, according to reports from Associated Press.

Neumann’s attempt of seeking asylum in Belarus is likely to be a pressure point in the already strained diplomatic relations between the United States, Belarus and Russia.

Both Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin have used the January 6 storming of the Capitol complex as a way to accuse the United States of a double standard in criticizing other countries, including Russia and Belarus, for cracking down on anti-government protests, according to reports from Associated Press.

Court documents in the US state that Neumann stood at the front of a barricade — set up by law enforcement officials– wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat as supporters of then-President Donald Trump attempted to make their way through multiple officers.

Prosecutors say Neumann taunted and screamed at the police before putting a gas mask over his face and threatening one officer, saying police would be “overrun” by the crowd.