The Government of Rwanda today welcomed the decision by the Spanish Supreme Court to dismiss 40 indictments of Rwandan officials, upholding the January 2015 ruling of Spain’s National Court.
Rwanda’s Minister of Justice Johnston Busingye said:
“The Spanish Supreme Court has done the right thing. There was never any basis for the indictments in the first place, it was a blatant abuse of universal jurisdiction.
For years, forty Rwandan individuals have endured sustained persecution at the hands of an investigating judge whose radical motives and actions have now been definitively overturned and halted by the highest court in Spain.
It’s gratifying that we can finally move on from this regrettable episode. Rwandans will continue to build an enduring relationship of trust, friendship and collaboration with the Spanish people and the country’s institutions.”
The cases were filed in 2008 by Judge Andreu Merelles, using the principle of universal jurisdiction and have always been considered politically motivated. In its decision, the Supreme Court halted investigations by the judge in Spain. This amounts to recognition of Rwanda’s primary jurisdiction over the matter.
Leave a Reply