Hotel Rwanda hero sues Greek airline for ‘aiding kidnap’

By Catherine Byaruhanga

A prominent critic of the Rwandan president who is in prison on terrorism charges says he is suing a Greek charter flight company for aiding his alleged kidnap and repatriation to Rwanda.

Paul Rusesabagina - whose story during the 1994 genocide inspired the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda - had been living in exile in the US and Belgium.

He says in August he intended to visit Burundi for a speaking engagement but when he boarded a private flight in Dubai he was instead flown to Rwanda.

A civil lawsuit filed in Texas alleges that the charter company, GainJet, agreed to facilitate the journey because of its close relationship with officials in Kigali.

A similar case is expected be lodged in Belgium where Mr Rusesabagina holds citizenship.

GainJet has not responded to the BBC’s requests for comment.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Reuters]