Rusatira (ICTR-02-80)

This case summary is part of a collection of summaries describing the cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). See the Online Resource Hub pages on the ICTR and International Criminal Law, and table of ICTR case summaries for additional information.

Source: Rusatira (ICTR-02-80)

Indictment Withdrawn: 19 August 2004

Léonidas Rusatira, the former Director of the Rwandan Military Academy (École Supérieure Militaire) and a General in the Rwandan Armed Forces, was indicted for his alleged role as part of a joint criminal enterprise aimed at exterminating Tutsis throughout Rwanda. The prosecution charged Rusatira with direct and superior responsibility for genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for acts of extermination, murder, and persecution.

In 2004, an ICTR Trial Chamber granted the prosecution’s motion to withdraw the indictment after the prosecution determined that the evidence against Rusatira was insufficient to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.