(Central News Agency) Ruse Sabacina, the hero of the Hollywood movie "Hotel Rwanda", is about to be released from prison. The Luanda government said today that Seza Bacina's sentence has been commuted and he is expected to be released tomorrow.

Paul Rusesabagina, who worked as a restaurant manager in the capital Kigali during Rwanda's 1994 genocide, helped save some 1,200 lives, AFP reported.

About 800,000 people were killed, mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus.

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Ruse Sabacina, who later became an outspoken critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and founded his own political party, was made into the Oscar-nominated 2004 Hollywood film "Lu Anda Hotel", starring American actor Don Cheadle.

Afterwards, Ruse Sabacina was sentenced to 25 years in prison after a trial in September 2021. His supporters accused it of being a sham trial full of wrongdoing.

His family is concerned that the 68-year-old's health is deteriorating and he may die in prison, but hopes to be reunited with him one day.

Kagame had said less than two weeks ago that Rwandan authorities were studying how to resolve the Ruse Sabacina case.

The case has drawn attention from Western and global human rights groups.

Rwanda government spokesman Yolande Makolo told reporters today: "Ruse Sabacina and (co-accused) Callixte Nsabimana have had their sentences commuted by presidential order because of concerns about their Their lenient plea."

Makolo said 18 other people convicted of terrorism crimes along with Rusezabachina also had their sentences reduced.

That underscores the role of the United States and Qatar in resolving the case.

But Marcolo added: "No one should be delusional about the meaning of the reduced sentence, because everyone agrees that they committed a serious crime and were found guilty for it."

A Rwandan government source told reporters that Ruse Sabachina and other prisoners are expected to be released tomorrow.

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