(ANSA) - ROME, JANUARY 26 - The trial against Paul Rusesabagina, hero of the 'Hotel Ruanda', who saved over a thousand people during the Tutsi genocide in 1994, postponed to February 17.
The man, accused of terrorism, appeared in court today with an online link from prison, but the court adjourned the hearing because his lawyers have not yet met him.
The 66-year-old former hotelier, who has lived between Belgium and the US for over 20 years, was arrested last August, amid protests from his family and international organizations for human rights, according to which he was illegally brought to Rwanda.
Rusesabagina faces 9 charges, including terrorist financing, armed robbery, kidnapping, arson, attempted murder, assault and beatings.
So far he has admitted supporting Rwandan FLN rebels, but has denied any responsibility for a series of attacks in which nine people were killed, several injuries and property were destroyed between 2018 and 2019. Other FLN members will go to the stand.
Rusesabagina has always been very critical of President Paul Kagame, accusing him of violations of human rights and dictatorship.
In 2004 Hollywood dedicated a film to him, 'HotelRwanda', which tells of how he managed to save over a thousand people from the genocide by hiding them in his hotel from the pro-government militias of the Hutu majority.
(HANDLE).
