Lawyers of Paul Rusesabagina, the former hotelier who saved hundreds of people’s lives during the Rwanda genocide, filed a claim at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) on Tuesday, alleging violations of his right to a fair trial.
Rusesabagina asked the Tanzania-based court to order the Rwandan authorities to immediately release him and permanently stay the proceedings against him, Kitty Kurth, the spokeswoman of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, said in a statement.
Rusesabagina, who has lived outside Rwanda for years, says he was illegally arrested, kidnapped on August 27, 2020, and was a victim of illegal rendition.
“When the Rwandan government kidnaps a person, leaves him tied and bound for days, and subjects him to an illegal and extraordinary rendition, it is breaching [the rule of law],” Rusesabagina’s lawyer Philippe Larochelle said in a statement.
Rusesabagina, a long-time critic of President Paul Kagame, is charged with terrorism, among other crimes, and faces a maximum of 25 years imprisonment if convicted.
He gained hero status for rescuing people during the 1994 genocide and his story was made into the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda.”
The government has accused him of being involved with the MRCD, a grouping of political parties in exile opposed to the Rwandan government. The MRCD has an armed wing, the FLN, which is fighting the Rwandan government and has been accused of carrying out attacks near the border with Burundi.
Last month, Rusesabagina admitted to being involved in setting up an anti-government group, but said he never supported any violence.
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