The Rwandan government announced Friday that Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the acclaimed 2004 film 'Hotel Rwanda,' will be released from prison within 24 hours.
In this Feb. 26, 2021 file photo Paul Rusesabagina attends a court hearing in Kigali, Rwanda.The Rwandan government announced Friday that Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the acclaimed 2004 film "Hotel Rwanda," will be released from prison nearly three years after he wasThe 68-year-old Rwandan hotelier-turned-dissident, who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was tried and convicted on a slew of terrorism-related charges in Rwanda's High Court in Kigali in 2021.
When asked for comment, Rusesabagina's family told ABC News in a statement on Friday: "We are pleased to hear the news about Paul's release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon." More than 1,200 people took shelter in the Hotel des Mille Collines during what is often described as the darkest chapter of Rwanda's history. Rusesabagina, who is of both Hutu and Tutsi descent, said he used his job and connections with the Hutu elite to protect the hotel's guests from massacre. The events were later immortalized in "Hotel Rwanda," with American actor Don Cheadle's portrayal of Rusesabagina earning an Academy Award nomination for best actor in 2005.
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