Lantos Foundation Statement: Celebrating the Release of Paul Rusesabagina and Continuing the Fight for Prisoners of Conscience

The Lantos Foundation is thrilled to confirm that Paul Rusesabagina has been released from prison in Kigali, Rwanda, and has returned safely to his home and family in the United States. This marks the end of a painful and challenging ordeal for Mr. Rusesabagina and his loved ones. It began with his kidnapping in August 2020; since then, he has been tortured, made to endure a sham trial, and unjustly imprisoned for more than 930 days. Today, however, there is great cause to celebrate the freedom of a true humanitarian hero and human rights champion.

Paul Rusesabagina came to prominence on the international stage after the film Hotel Rwanda depicted his courageous and resourceful rescue of 1,200 Tutsis and Hutus during the 1994 genocide. He was honored with the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 and awarded the Lantos Human Rights Prize in 2011. The past two-and-a-half years have been excruciating for the Rusesabagina family, who have advocated bravely and tirelessly on his behalf. The Lantos Foundation has been privileged to advocate alongside them. The Rwandan government’s decision to commute Mr. Rusesabagina’s 25-year sentence and allow him to return to the U.S. is the right one.

As we celebrate Mr. Rusesabagina’s freedom, we also honor and remember the many prisoners of conscience who remain behind bars – people like Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, and so many more. We hope that this joyous development for Mr. Rusesabagina will offer hope for those still held unjustly at the hands of authoritarian leaders. Even more so, we hope it will inspire and encourage human rights advocates and activists everywhere to continue fighting for the freedom of political prisoners. The fight is never easy and the path has many twists, turns, and even seeming dead ends. But we must never give up. The Lantos Foundation commits to continuing our advocacy for many others whose fate still hangs in the balance and who need to know that we stand with them and will not forget them.