Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory". The charges refer to terrorist attacks that took place in the south of Rwanda, near the Burundi border, in 2018. At least 9 people were killed in these attacks, including two children. Trial In October 2020, the Rwandan Prosecution Authority announced that it would try Rusesabagina along with 16 alleged rebels. His trial was initially scheduled for the 26 January 2021, but was postponed due to ongoing complications with the COVID-19 situation in Kigali. His trial, alongside 20 co-defendants, began on 17 February 2021. Rusesabagina told the court that he did not have Rwandan citizenship, so he could not face trial in Rwanda. Another defendant, FLN spokesperson Callixte Nsabimana, seemed to be shocked by these comments, testifying that Rusesabagina "had ambitions to become the president of Rwanda. Now how do you have such ambitions when you're not Rwandan? We waged war on Rwanda, and failed and were captured. It is embarrassing for him to now claim that he is not Rwandan." Following a hearing held on 12 March 2021, Rusesabagina stated his intention to no longer engage in the court process due to his belief that justice would not be achieved, and accusing the court of not respecting his rights to a fair trial. Rusesabagina did not attend subsequent hearings, with the presiding judge Antoine Muhima ruling that the trial would continue. In July 2021, the court announced that the verdict of the trial would be promulgated on 20 August 2021. On 20 September 2021, he was found guilty of terrorism-related charges. During the court proceeding, he denounced president Paul Kagame and reported that he had been abducted from exile to stand trial in Rwanda. Following his conviction, Rusesabagina was given a 25-year prison sentence. Human rights advocates stated that they believed the charges were politically motivated due to Rusesabagina's criticism of Kagame. On 24 January 2022, prosecutors in the Kigali court sought life imprisonment for Rusesabagina in the trial. Criticism Rusesabagina's lawyers have argued that the arrest was motivated by Rusesabagina's outspoken criticism of the Rwandan government, in line with other arrests and disappearances of dissidents under the presidency of Paul Kagame. They have also argued that his flight to Rwanda was illegal under international law and constitutes extraordinary rendition. Human Rights Watch called Rusesabagina's trial "flawed" and an example of Rwanda's overreach and manipulation of the country's justice system. Rwandan authorities repeatedly violated