Vocal critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame was sentenced in September 2021 over his alleged ties to a group blamed for deadly gun, grenade and arson attacks — allegations he vehemently denied.
Paul Rusesabagina, who was
portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda” and is
serving a 25-year sentence in Rwanda on terrorism charges, will
be released on Saturday, a Rwanda government source said.
His release reported on Friday follows intense diplomacy by the United States,
where Rusesabagina has permanent residency rights.
Historically
close ties between the two countries have been strained over the
case and Rwanda’s alleged meddling in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).
Rusesabagina was sentenced in September 2021 over his ties
to an organisation opposed to the rule of President Paul Kagame. He denied all the
charges and had refused to take part in the trial that he and his
supporters called a political sham.
Rusesabagina will initially be flown to Doha, and then on to
the United States, the source said.
Washington designated him as “wrongly detained”, partly
because of what it called the lack of fair trial guarantees.
The former hotelier’s release may help to ease tensions with
the US, which has repeatedly called on Rwanda to cease its
support of the M23 armed group and to withdraw its troops from
neighbouring DRC.
Rwanda denies any involvement in DRC.
REAM MORE: ‘Hotel Rwanda’ film hero gets 25 years in jail on terror charges
Rusesabagina, a vocal critic of Kagame, acknowledged having
a leadership role in the opposition group, the Rwanda Movement
for Democratic Change (MRCD), but denied responsibility for
attacks carried out on Rwanda by its armed wing, the Forces for
National Liberation (FLN).
The trial judges said the two wings of the group were
indistinguishable.
“I regret not taking more care to ensure that members of the
MRCD coalition fully adhered to the principles of non-violence,”
Rusesabagina wrote in an October 14 letter to Kagame seeking
clemency, which was seen by Reuters news agency.
“If I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully
that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States
in quiet reflection,” he wrote.
Callixte Nsabimana, known by his alias Sankara, an FLN
spokesman who was convicted by a Rwandan court of terrorism,
murder and hostage-taking in 2019, will be released alongside
Rusesabagina and several others, the source said.
Earlier this month, Kagame said there were discussions about “resolving” the fate of Rusesabagina.
READ MORE:
‘Hotel Rwanda’ movie hero Rusesabagina arrested on terror charges
Source: Reuters
‘Hotel Rwanda’ figure Paul Rusesabagina to be freed from prison
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