The Rwandan government announced on Friday that Paul Rusesabagina, an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, is set to be released.
Rusesabagina, who also played a part in the hit film “Hotel Rwanda“, was jailed on terrorism charges in September 2021.
The Rwandan government’s spokesman maintained that all procedures were followed.
“There is no doubt that the procedure was well respected, and there is no doubt that Mr.Rusesabagina had been convicted because he deserved it. On this point, there is no doubt. Today he is released because the law allows it.
“And you also have to remember that if you relapse and fall back into the same offences, you go back to the sentence and on the other hand for the victims, if you were fined, then the fines remain”, said Alain Mukuralinda, spokesman for the Rwandan government,” the spokesman said.
Friday’s announcement came a day after President Paul Kagame left Qatar, where he had signalled his government was looking at ways of resolving the case that has been a cause of concern for the West and rights campaigners.
Rusesabagina’s family has accused the authorities of torturing him in prison and warned about his deteriorating health.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison for Terrorism-Related charges.
A Rwandan court convicted Rusesabagina, a U.S. resident immortalized by Hollywood for saving more than 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide, on a string of charges including terrorism.
The 67-year-old recipient of a U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, who described the trial as politically motivated to silence him, looked solemn as the presiding judge read the verdict in Kigali.
According to US senior administration officials, Rusesabagina, who is a US legal permanent resident, had been transferred to the residence of the Qatari ambassador in Kigali.
“He will be spending a limited period of time hosted by the Qataris,” likely a couple of days, one official said, and then will travel to Doha and on to the United States.
Rusesabagina, an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, is best known for saving hundreds of Rwandans during the country’s genocide by sheltering them in the hotel he managed.
He was arrested by Rwandan authorities while he was traveling internationally in 2020 in what his family has claimed was a kidnapping.
Rusesabagina was found guilty on terrorism-related charges in September 2021 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The commutation of his sentence comes after he asked Kagame for a pardon in an October 2022 letter.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Rusesabagina, who is a dual Rwandan and Belgian citizen, was slated to be released along with 19 other people that had been convicted alongside him.
“Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the State of Qatar,” she added.
In a statement Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed Rusesabagina’s release.
“It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the US Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible. We also thank the Government of Qatar for their valuable assistance that will enable Paul’s return to the United States,” Blinken said.
