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| Rwanda Announces Release From Prison of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero | Rwanda Announces Release From Prison of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero |
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| Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroism in the face of genocide was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated movie “Hotel Rwanda,” will be released from prison on Saturday after having been captured, held and tried by the Rwandan government in a case that drew international condemnation. | |
| His release, announced by the Rwandan government on Friday, will end two and a half years in captivity for Mr. Rusesabagina, 68, who had moved to the United States and become a staunch detractor of Rwanda’s longtime leader, Paul Kagame. | |
| Mr. Rusesabagina’s enforced disappearance and trial drew widespread criticism of Mr. Kagame, whose achievements in developing his country since the genocide in 1994 have at times been overshadowed by his autocratic rule, dismal human rights record and destabilizing military intervention in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. | Mr. Rusesabagina’s enforced disappearance and trial drew widespread criticism of Mr. Kagame, whose achievements in developing his country since the genocide in 1994 have at times been overshadowed by his autocratic rule, dismal human rights record and destabilizing military intervention in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Mr. Rusesabagina’s release offers the Rwandan government the opportunity to deflect attention from those issues at a time when Rwanda, a tiny nation in central Africa, is offering to house migrants unwanted by Britain, Denmark and other countries. | Mr. Rusesabagina’s release offers the Rwandan government the opportunity to deflect attention from those issues at a time when Rwanda, a tiny nation in central Africa, is offering to house migrants unwanted by Britain, Denmark and other countries. |
| Supporters were jubilant at the news of Mr. Rusesabagina’s impending release on Friday, but they were also reluctant to say too much for fear of jeopardizing his departure from Rwanda. His family said that they were “hopeful to reunite with him soon,” after years of campaigning for his release. | Supporters were jubilant at the news of Mr. Rusesabagina’s impending release on Friday, but they were also reluctant to say too much for fear of jeopardizing his departure from Rwanda. His family said that they were “hopeful to reunite with him soon,” after years of campaigning for his release. |
| Don Cheadle, the actor who portrayed Mr. Rusesabagina in “Hotel Rwanda” and who later became an advocate for his release, called the development “unbelievable news.” Mr. Cheadle said he had just gotten off the phone with one of Mr. Rusesabagina’s daughters. “We cheered and she was doing back flips, of course.” | Don Cheadle, the actor who portrayed Mr. Rusesabagina in “Hotel Rwanda” and who later became an advocate for his release, called the development “unbelievable news.” Mr. Cheadle said he had just gotten off the phone with one of Mr. Rusesabagina’s daughters. “We cheered and she was doing back flips, of course.” |
| In August 2020, Mr. Rusesabagina was duped into traveling overseas on what he thought was a speaking trip, only to be kidnapped by the Rwandan government, tortured and put on trial. He was accused of belonging to an opposition political coalition whose armed wing had carried out violent attacks on civilians inside Rwanda. | In August 2020, Mr. Rusesabagina was duped into traveling overseas on what he thought was a speaking trip, only to be kidnapped by the Rwandan government, tortured and put on trial. He was accused of belonging to an opposition political coalition whose armed wing had carried out violent attacks on civilians inside Rwanda. |
| After a seven-month trial that legal observers said was deeply flawed, Mr. Rusesabagina was convicted on eight charges, including murder, kidnapping and belonging to a terrorist group, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He insisted he was innocent. | After a seven-month trial that legal observers said was deeply flawed, Mr. Rusesabagina was convicted on eight charges, including murder, kidnapping and belonging to a terrorist group, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He insisted he was innocent. |
| On Saturday, Mr. Rusesabagina will be released alongside 19 others with whom he was convicted on terrorism-related offenses, said Yolande Makolo, spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, in a text message. Although their prison sentences had been commuted, that does not “extinguish the underlying conviction” under Rwandan law, she added. | On Saturday, Mr. Rusesabagina will be released alongside 19 others with whom he was convicted on terrorism-related offenses, said Yolande Makolo, spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, in a text message. Although their prison sentences had been commuted, that does not “extinguish the underlying conviction” under Rwandan law, she added. |
| “No one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted,” Ms. Makolo said in the text message. | “No one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted,” Ms. Makolo said in the text message. |
| The release, first reported by the news outlet Semafor, follows several months of negotiations involving the White House, the Rwandan government, Mr. Rusesabagina’s family and, more recently, the government of Qatar. | The release, first reported by the news outlet Semafor, follows several months of negotiations involving the White House, the Rwandan government, Mr. Rusesabagina’s family and, more recently, the government of Qatar. |
| Mr. Rusesabagina is expected to fly to the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday and then on to the United States, according to an official informed of the negotiations, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. | Mr. Rusesabagina is expected to fly to the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday and then on to the United States, according to an official informed of the negotiations, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. |
| The official said that the arrangements were discussed during a meeting last week between Mr. Kagame and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, at the Global Security Forum in Doha. | The official said that the arrangements were discussed during a meeting last week between Mr. Kagame and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, at the Global Security Forum in Doha. |
| Mr. Rusesabagina’s release will come just weeks before the 29th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, which continued for 100 days and killed as many as one million people. He was later lauded for his role in sheltering and saving 1,268 people at the luxury hotel that he managed in central Kigali, the Rwandan capital. | Mr. Rusesabagina’s release will come just weeks before the 29th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, which continued for 100 days and killed as many as one million people. He was later lauded for his role in sheltering and saving 1,268 people at the luxury hotel that he managed in central Kigali, the Rwandan capital. |
| That story became the genesis for the 2004 movie “Hotel Rwanda” and brought him global recognition and multiple awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President George W. Bush. | That story became the genesis for the 2004 movie “Hotel Rwanda” and brought him global recognition and multiple awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President George W. Bush. |
| But Mr. Rusesabagina also used his fame to become a vociferous critic of President Kagame, accusing him of having blood on his hands since the genocide — an accusation that enraged Mr. Kagame and set the stage for enmity between the two men that steadily grew over the years. | But Mr. Rusesabagina also used his fame to become a vociferous critic of President Kagame, accusing him of having blood on his hands since the genocide — an accusation that enraged Mr. Kagame and set the stage for enmity between the two men that steadily grew over the years. |
| In August 2020, Mr. Rusesabagina, by then a resident of San Antonio, was lured by Rwandan operatives into traveling to Dubai, then into boarding a private jet he believed was flying to Burundi. | In August 2020, Mr. Rusesabagina, by then a resident of San Antonio, was lured by Rwandan operatives into traveling to Dubai, then into boarding a private jet he believed was flying to Burundi. |
| In fact, it landed in Rwanda, where Mr. Rusesabagina was blindfolded and taken to a cell where he later said he had been tortured. Days later, the authorities paraded him in front of the news media and charged him with being the founder and leader of a group that sponsored and financed terrorist activities against Rwandans. | In fact, it landed in Rwanda, where Mr. Rusesabagina was blindfolded and taken to a cell where he later said he had been tortured. Days later, the authorities paraded him in front of the news media and charged him with being the founder and leader of a group that sponsored and financed terrorist activities against Rwandans. |
| The U.S. Congress and the European Parliament called for Mr. Rusesabagina’s release. But Mr. Kagame boasted about the operation that snared him, calling it “flawless,” and appeared impervious to international pressure. | The U.S. Congress and the European Parliament called for Mr. Rusesabagina’s release. But Mr. Kagame boasted about the operation that snared him, calling it “flawless,” and appeared impervious to international pressure. |
| A cancer survivor who also has cardiovascular issues, Mr. Rusesabagina was suffering from deteriorating health in detention, his family said. Prison officials routinely barged into his room, confiscating his books and a rosary blessed by the pope, they said. | A cancer survivor who also has cardiovascular issues, Mr. Rusesabagina was suffering from deteriorating health in detention, his family said. Prison officials routinely barged into his room, confiscating his books and a rosary blessed by the pope, they said. |
| Then two weeks ago, during the security forum in Doha, Mr. Kagame hinted at a release, saying he was “looking at all possible ways of resolving” the case. In fact, American officials said in interviews, quiet negotiations had been underway for many months, often led by President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. | Then two weeks ago, during the security forum in Doha, Mr. Kagame hinted at a release, saying he was “looking at all possible ways of resolving” the case. In fact, American officials said in interviews, quiet negotiations had been underway for many months, often led by President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. |
| Mr. Rusesabagina had written a letter to Mr. Kagame last October seeking pardon and regretting any association with political groups that used violence. Rwanda released a copy of that letter on Friday, which appeared to include a commitment to step out of the spotlight. | Mr. Rusesabagina had written a letter to Mr. Kagame last October seeking pardon and regretting any association with political groups that used violence. Rwanda released a copy of that letter on Friday, which appeared to include a commitment to step out of the spotlight. |
| “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,” Mr. Rusesabagina wrote. “I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise.” | “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,” Mr. Rusesabagina wrote. “I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise.” |
| A U.S. congressional aide familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation, called the letter a key step in the process of winning Mr. Rusesabagina’s release. | A U.S. congressional aide familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation, called the letter a key step in the process of winning Mr. Rusesabagina’s release. |
| The aide said the U.S. government was initially slow to move on Mr. Rusesabagina’s case because of the complexity of his status: He is a legal permanent resident of the United States, a Belgian citizen and a former citizen of Rwanda. | The aide said the U.S. government was initially slow to move on Mr. Rusesabagina’s case because of the complexity of his status: He is a legal permanent resident of the United States, a Belgian citizen and a former citizen of Rwanda. |
| But the high-profile nature of the case turned it into an irritant between Rwanda and the United States. A combination of congressional pressure and steady advocacy by Mr. Rusesabagina’s family helped to move the needle on the case, the aide said, leading the U.S. government to make an official determination last year that he had been “unlawfully detained.” | But the high-profile nature of the case turned it into an irritant between Rwanda and the United States. A combination of congressional pressure and steady advocacy by Mr. Rusesabagina’s family helped to move the needle on the case, the aide said, leading the U.S. government to make an official determination last year that he had been “unlawfully detained.” |
| Even though the case had become a sore point between the two countries, the United States gave Rwanda $147 million in aid in 2021. | Even though the case had become a sore point between the two countries, the United States gave Rwanda $147 million in aid in 2021. |
| On a visit to Kigali in August, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said he raised his concerns over the case with Mr. Kagame in a private meeting. The Biden administration had hoped he might be freed by the time of the Africa Summit, a major gathering of African leaders in Washington, which took place in December. | On a visit to Kigali in August, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said he raised his concerns over the case with Mr. Kagame in a private meeting. The Biden administration had hoped he might be freed by the time of the Africa Summit, a major gathering of African leaders in Washington, which took place in December. |
| But Mr. Kagame cut a belligerent figure at the summit, saying that he wouldn’t be “bullied” into releasing his longtime foe. During the summit, Mr. Kagame was not granted one-on-one meetings with senior U.S. officials, a sign of displeasure from the administration, the aide noted. | But Mr. Kagame cut a belligerent figure at the summit, saying that he wouldn’t be “bullied” into releasing his longtime foe. During the summit, Mr. Kagame was not granted one-on-one meetings with senior U.S. officials, a sign of displeasure from the administration, the aide noted. |
| Mr. Kagame eventually relented this week, agreeing to release Mr. Rusesabagina to Qatar, a wealthy Persian Gulf country that has good relations with Rwanda, and that has acted as an intermediary in several international hostage situations. | Mr. Kagame eventually relented this week, agreeing to release Mr. Rusesabagina to Qatar, a wealthy Persian Gulf country that has good relations with Rwanda, and that has acted as an intermediary in several international hostage situations. |