This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/24/hotel-rwanda-paul-rusesabagina-to-be-released-from-prison

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hotel Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina to be released from prison Hotel Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina to be released from prison
(about 2 hours later)
Ex-hotelier whose actions saved lives during 1994 genocide has sentence for terrorism charges commutedEx-hotelier whose actions saved lives during 1994 genocide has sentence for terrorism charges commuted
Paul Rusesabagina, a businessman whose role in saving more than 1,000 lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide inspired the film Hotel Rwanda, is to be released from prison on Saturday after his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges was commuted.Paul Rusesabagina, a businessman whose role in saving more than 1,000 lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide inspired the film Hotel Rwanda, is to be released from prison on Saturday after his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges was commuted.
The announcement by the Rwandan government follows intense diplomacy by the US, 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.The announcement by the Rwandan government follows intense diplomacy by the US, 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.
“This is the result of a shared desire to reset US-Rwanda relationship,” Stephanie Nyombayire, a spokesperson for Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame, wrote on Twitter. “This is the result of a shared desire to reset US-Rwanda relationship,” Stephanie Nyombayire, a spokesperson for Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, wrote on Twitter.
Rusesabagina was sentenced in September 2021 over his ties to an organisation opposed to President Paul Kagame’s rule. He denied all the charges and refused to take part in the trial that he and his supporters called a political sham. The government of Qatar announced that Rusesabagina would fly to Doha after he was freed, then the US.
Rusesabagina was arrested in August 2020 after being tricked on to a private plane from Dubai. He was sentenced in September 2021 over his ties to an organisation opposed to Kagame’s rule. He denied all the charges and refused to take part in the trial, which he and his supporters called a political sham.
Washington designated him as “wrongly detained”, partly because of what it called the lack of fair trial guarantees.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 Congo. Rwanda denies any involvement in Congo.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 Congo. Rwanda denies any involvement in Congo.
“I commend US and Rwandan officials for working together on Mr. Rusesabagina’s release and addressing the issues surrounding his case, including those related to justice and political violence,” Jim Risch, ranking member of the US Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement.“I commend US and Rwandan officials for working together on Mr. Rusesabagina’s release and addressing the issues surrounding his case, including those related to justice and political violence,” Jim Risch, ranking member of the US Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement.
Rusesabagina is expected to be released on Saturday alongside 19 others, whose sentences were also commuted by presidential order after requests for clemency, said Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo. The issue has been delicate for the US, which is seeking to reinforce its relationship with Kagame amid growing regional instability and competition for influence from other powers across the continent.
Rusesabagina is expected to be released on Saturday alongside 19 others, whose sentences were also commuted by presidential order after requests for clemency, said Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo.
“Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction,” Makolo said. “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.”“Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction,” Makolo said. “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.”
Rusesabagina will be flown initially to Doha, where his family may join him, and then on to the US, the online media platform Semaphor reported.
“If any individual benefiting from early release repeats offences of a similar nature, the commutation can be revoked and the remainder of the prison sentence will be served,” Rwanda’s justice ministry said in a statement.“If any individual benefiting from early release repeats offences of a similar nature, the commutation can be revoked and the remainder of the prison sentence will be served,” Rwanda’s justice ministry said in a statement.
Rusesabagina, a vocal critic of Kagame, acknowledged having a leadership role in an 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).Rusesabagina, a vocal critic of Kagame, acknowledged having a leadership role in an 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.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 a 14 October letter to Kagame, which was released by the justice ministry. “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.” “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 a 14 October letter to Kagame, which was released by the justice ministry. “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.”
Callixte Nsabimana, known by his alias Sankara, an FLN spokesperson who was convicted by a Rwandan court of terrorism, murder and hostage-taking in 2019, will be among those who will be released, the spokesperson said. His family had warned about his deteriorating health, voicing fears that he could die behind bars. “We are pleased to hear the news about Paul’s release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon,” the family said in a statement.
“I have expressed my apologies to all Rwandans, especially to the people who were affected by the attacks by the FLN fighters for whom I was the spokesperson,” Nsabimana said in a handwritten letter to Kagame released by the justice ministry. Kagame, who won a third term in power with 98% of the vote at elections in 2017, is credited with the development and stability Rwanda has experienced since the genocide in 1994, but is also accused of intolerance of any opposition, whether domestic or international. Critics of his rule are frequently detained and several high-profile political dissidents have been murdered abroad.
Earlier this month, Kagame said there were discussions about “resolving” the fate of Rusesabagina. News of Rusesabagina’s impending release surprised many in the capital, Kigali.
“There is a degree of shock and anger among a section of Rwandans who didn’t expect Rusesabagina to be released so soon into a 25-year prison sentence given that they were told he was behind a rebel group that killed civilians,” said Gonzaga Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst. Muganwa said it was clear that the Rwandan government was now prioritising relations with the US.
Talks on a potential release started at the end of 2022 and a breakthrough came last week in discussions between Kagame and the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told Agence France-Presse.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report