6. Russian Federation: Serious human rights violations associated to remember the victims reiterated the need with the preparation for and staging of the Sochi Olympic Games, for the international community to continue open letter to the Chair of the International Olympic Committee, 10 to improve its response to emerging mass February 2014 (EUR 46/008/2014) atrocities.1 www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR46/008/2014/en Economic progress and development 7. “Russia: Legacy of Olympic games tarnished by arrests, 22 February continued. However, the political landscape 2014” (Press release) continued to be dominated by the ruling www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/russia-legacy- (RPF) without olympic-games-tarnished-arrests-2014-02-22 any meaningful opposition. The authorities 8. Russia: Burning down homes after Chechnya clashes appears to be continued to react harshly to any criticism, collective punishment (News story) especially regarding its human rights record. www.amnesty.org/en/news/russia-burning-down-homes-after- In late July, President Kagame reshuffled chechnya-clashes-appears-be-collective-punishment-2014-12-09-0 the cabinet and Prime Minister Habumuremyi 9. Russian Federation: Imprisoned activist must be released was replaced. The President of the Senate, immediately: Ruslan Kutaev (EUR 46/052/2014) Jean-Damascène Ntawukuriryayo, resigned www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR46/052/2014/en in September. 10. Russian Federation: Further information: New death threats against In June, a report by the UN Group Dagestan lawyers (EUR 46/034/2014) of Experts noted that the fate of former www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR46/034/2014/en combatants and political cadres of the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group remained unresolved, including escapes of individuals from camps in . Many M23 members had fled to Rwanda following their defeat by RWANDA the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) troops in late 2013. Republic of Rwanda Head of state: Paul Kagame POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS ABROAD Head of government: Anastase Murekezi (replaced The Rwandan government denied allegations Pierre Damien Habumuremyi in July) that they were linked to successful or attempted assassinations of political dissidents abroad. Freedoms of expression and association in On 1 January, Patrick Karegeya, a leading Rwanda continued to be unduly restricted member of the opposition Rwandan National by the authorities. Rwandans were unable Congress (RNC) and former Head of External to openly express critical views on issues Intelligence (RDF), was found dead in a perceived as sensitive by the authorities hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. and the environment for journalists, human Investigations into his killing were carried out; rights defenders and members of the however, the perpetrators were not identified. opposition remained repressive. There were Public statements following his death by the reports of unlawful detention by Rwandan Rwandan authorities, including President military intelligence and past cases of Kagame, sought to justify the killing of people torture were not investigated. who were traitors to the country. In August, a South African Court found BACKGROUND four men guilty of the 2010 attempted 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of the 1994 assassination of Kayumba Nyamwasa, an in which around 800,000 Rwandan exiled RNC dissident and former Chief of Staff and opposed to the government of the RDF. The judge was cited in media were killed. Around the world, events held

310 Amnesty International Report 2014/15 reports as saying that the main culprits for the returned to Rwanda in January 2010 after 16 attempted assassination remained at large. years in exile in Europe. Bernard Ntaganda, President of the Ideal HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Social Party (Parti Social-Imberakuri), was Human rights defenders were subjected to released from Mpanga prison after four personalized attacks and threats and faced years in detention. He had been found guilty intimidation and administrative obstacles. in 2011 of “divisionism” for making public Space for criticism of the country’s human speeches criticizing government policies rights record by civil society was almost ahead of the 2010 elections, breaching non-existent. The human rights community state security and attempting to plan an remained weakened, with individuals “unauthorized demonstration”. taking a pro-government position in their work or employing self-censorship to avoid FREEDOMS OF ASSOCIATION harassment by the authorities. AND EXPRESSION In August, Transparency International (TI) People continued to be imprisoned for the issued a statement reporting security risks legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom experienced by its staff. According to TI, an of association or of expression. armed man had attempted to enter its offices Sylvain Sibomana and Anselme on 29 July and another staff member had Mutuyimana, members of FDU-Inkingi, reported security threats at his home. The remained in prison. Both were sentenced in killing in July 2013 of Gustave Makonene, January following their conviction for inciting who worked for TI, had a chilling effect on insurrection or trouble among the population other activists working on potentially sensitive after organizing a meeting in Rutsiro district issues, such as corruption. in September 2012. An appeal was lodged On 8 August, the High Court of Nyarugenge against the convictions. Six members of FDU- in Kigali ruled that the current executive Inkingi were released on 5 September after committee of the Rwandan League for the serving a two-year sentence for attending the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights same meeting in Rutsiro. Sylvain Sibomana (LIPRODHOR) should remain in place. The was also convicted of participating in illegal complaint had been brought by the former gatherings for taking part in a demonstration President of LIPRODHOR who had been outside the Supreme Court during Victoire ousted in July 2013 in a move supported Ingabire’s appeal in March 2013. by the Rwanda Governance Board, an Political parties official body charged with promoting and The few opposition parties permitted faced a monitoring good governance in Rwanda. repressive environment. Legal procedures for The complainant lodged an appeal against establishing political parties remained lengthy the judgment. and time-consuming. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda POLITICAL PRISONERS (DGPR), which had been granted official Following the rejection of her appeal in registration in August 2013, called for an December 2013, Victoire Ingabire, President investigation to establish the whereabouts of of the United Democratic Forces party a leading party member, Jean Damascène (FDU-Inkingi), remained in Kigali Central Munyeshyaka, who was last seen on Prison serving a 15-year prison sentence for 27 June 2014 in Nyamata, Bugesera terrorism-related and freedom of expression District. The DGPR alleged that prior to his offences. Some of the evidence used to disappearance he had received a telephone convict her was linked to the legitimate call from an individual requesting that expression of her ideas. Victoire Ingabire had they meet immediately. The DGPR had

Amnesty International Report 2014/15 311 previously reported administrative obstacles Four people - Kizito Mihigo, a singer; in registering and state surveillance, Cassien Ntamuhanga, a journalist harassment and intimidation because of their with Amazing Grace Radio; Jean Paul political activities. Dukuzumuremyi, a demobilized soldier; and Agnes Nyibizi, an accountant - were arrested UNLAWFUL DETENTIONS in April and charged with state security BY THE MILITARY offences. Official reports indicated they were Reports of unlawful detentions by the RDF accused of having been recruited by the RNC continued. People were held in detention and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation centres that were not part of the Rwanda of Rwanda, an armed group based in eastern Correctional Service, without access to Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of lawyers or due process. planning terrorist activities. It was reported Past allegations of torture, including that Kizito Mihigo may have held critical beatings, electric shocks and sensory conversations by email with the opposition deprivation, were not investigated. abroad; however, this remained unconfirmed. The authorities rejected criticism of alleged The four were detained pending trial at the unlawful detentions by military intelligence end of the year. made by the US and UK governments. On 4 In August, Rwandan military intelligence June 2014, President Kagame responded to arrested four individuals linked to the RDF. recent reports by saying that those seeking to They faced charges including tarnishing the destabilize the country would be arrested or image of the country or government, inciting even killed. insurrection or trouble among the population, concealing objects which were used or meant UNFAIR TRIALS - STATE to commit an offence, and illegal possession SECURITY TRIALS of firearms. Three faced trials before a High-ranking military officers were held military court - Colonel Tom Byabagamba, on state security charges. The authorities retired General Frank Rusagara and Sergeant failed to respect due process in their François Kabayiza. Captain David Kabuye was treatment of people suspected of terrorism- due to be tried before a civilian court. All four related offences. trials were pending at the end of 2014. The trial of Joel Mutabazi and 15 others ended in October. Joel Mutabazi, a PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE former bodyguard to President Kagame, In June, Agnès Nkusi Uwimana, editor of the was convicted of plotting attacks against private Kinyarwanda-language newspaper the government and sentenced to life Umurabyo, was released after completing imprisonment. He announced his intention to a four-year prison sentence. She had been appeal the verdict. Many of his co-accused imprisoned for threatening state security after stated in court that they had been tortured writing opinion pieces critical of government and forced to make confessions. However, policies and alleged corruption in the run-up the court failed to investigate these to the 2010 presidential elections. allegations. Joel Mutabazi had been detained incommunicado by Rwanda’s Department of INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE Military Intelligence at Camp Kami for several Trials of people suspected of involvement in months in 2010 and 2011 and tortured. He the continued in national had fled to Uganda, where he was under the courts outside Rwanda. protection of the Ugandan authorities, but in On 18 February, former Mayor Onesphore October 2013 he was abducted and illegally Rwabukombe was found guilty of aiding and returned to Rwanda.

312 Amnesty International Report 2014/15 abetting genocide and was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by a German court. SAUDI ARABIA On 14 March, a former Rwandan army captain, Pascal Simbikangwa, was found Kingdom of Saudi Arabia guilty by a French court of complicity in Head of state and government: King Abdullah bin genocide and crimes against humanity. Abdul Aziz Al Saud The court found that he played a key role in drawing up lists of Tutsi and moderate Hutu leaders to be targeted and contributed to The government severely restricted freedoms the setting up of Radio Mille Collines, which of expression, association and assembly, broadcast messages inciting violence. He was and cracked down on dissent, arresting sentenced to 25 years in prison. It was the and imprisoning critics, including human first time a French court had tried a genocide rights defenders. Many received unfair trials suspect. Six other genocide suspects in before courts that failed to respect due France were awaiting trial or on trial at the process, including a special anti-terrorism end of the year. court that handed down death sentences. On 7 May, the Quebec Superior Court New legislation effectively equated criticism upheld Désiré Munyaneza’s conviction by a of the government and other peaceful Canadian court for genocide, crimes against activities with terrorism. The authorities humanity and war crimes. clamped down on online activism and On 19 June, a Swedish court confirmed the intimidated activists and family members sentence of life imprisonment for Stanislas who reported human rights violations. Mbanenande for his role in five massacres in Discrimination against the Shi’a minority Kibuye during the genocide. remained entrenched; some Shi’a activists Extradition trials of four genocide suspects were sentenced to death and scores received in the UK continued during the year. lengthy prison terms. Torture of detainees In April, a Norwegian court sentenced Sadi was reportedly common; courts convicted Bugingo to 21 years’ imprisonment for his defendants on the basis of torture-tainted role in the genocide. His appeal was pending “confessions” and sentenced others to at the end of the year. The request to the flogging. Women faced discrimination in Norwegian authorities for the extradition of law and practice, and were inadequately another genocide suspect was approved, but protected against sexual and other violence pending appeal at the end of the year. despite a new law criminalizing domestic In the Netherlands, the extraditions of two violence. The authorities detained and men were pending at the end of the year and summarily expelled thousands of foreign in Denmark another genocide suspect was migrants, returning some to countries where awaiting trial. they were at risk of serious human rights International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda abuses. The authorities made extensive use The International Criminal Tribunal for of the death penalty and carried out dozens Rwanda prepared to close down its of public executions. operations. It had one case pending appeal at the end of 2014. The tribunal had completed BACKGROUND 75 cases, 14 of which ended in acquittals and The government adopted increasingly tough 10 were transferred to national jurisdictions. measures against its critics and opponents, who ranged from peaceful dissidents to armed Islamist militants, reflected by its 1. Rwanda: Never again means never again (AFR 47/001/2014) introduction and enforcement of sweeping www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR47/001/2014/en new and severe anti-terrorism legislation. The

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