Mr. Rukuki was arrested by the Service National du Renseignement (SNR, the National Intelligence Service) on 13 July 2017 and unjustly sentenced to 32 years in prison on 26 April 2018, after a process characterised by serious violations of the right to fair trial. Sentenced for “rebellion”, “attacking the authority of the State”, “participation in an insurrectionist movement” and “receiving contributions and funds from foreign organisations”, he appealed the conviction on 29 May and subsequently applied for bail on 26 June, in order to receive adequate medical treatment and full rehabilitation in hospital after fracturing his ankle in jail.

Together with six other civil society organisations, DefendDefenders call on the Burundian authorities to i.) Release Germain Rukuki on humanitarian grounds and ii.) Acquit Germain Rukuki of all charges.

The international communicaty is called on to i.) Continues monitoring the proceedings in order to ensure fair trial guarantees and ii.) Express support and solidarity with Mr Rukuki and his family.

Germain Rukuki’s arrest and imprisonment is an unjust attack against his peaceful human rights work, as part of a deliberate and continuous attempt of Burundian authorities to silence and criminalise human rights defenders in the country.

The signatory organisations

Protection International
DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
Féderation Internationale des ACAT (FIACAT)
Front Line Defenders
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

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See the full statement.