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Ryandikayo Case Transferred to Rwanda

The Referral Chamber of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on 20 June 2012 transferred to the authorities of the Republic of Rwanda the case of Ryandikayo, who was a businessman in Mubuga secteur, Gishyita commune during the genocide in Rwanda. Ryandikayo is believed to have been born around 1961 in Musenyi sectueur, Gishyita commune and currently remains at large.

The Prosecution has charged Ryandikayo with genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, as well as with murder, extermination, rape and persecution as crimes against humanity. Ryandikayo was a businessman who owned and ran both a restaurant and a brick factory. He was also allegedly a member of the political party Mouvement Démocratique Républicain (MDR) – Power Faction. It is alleged that Ryandikayo was directly involved in the systematic attacks directed against the Tutsi civilian population during the Rwandan genocide.

This is the sixth case to be transferred to the Republic of Rwanda by the ICTR following those of Jean Uwinkindi and Bernard Munyagishari whose transfer decisions were issued on 28 June 2011 and 6 June 2012, respectively, and of fugitive accused persons Fulgence Kayishema, Charles Sikuwabo, and Ladislas Ntaganzwa, whose cases were ordered to be referred to the Republic of Rwanda on 22 February 2012, 26 March 2012, and 8 May 2012, respectively.

In its ruling, the Referral Chamber, composed of Judges Vagn Joensen, Presiding, Florence Rita Arrey, and Gberdao Gustave Kam, ordered that the case of Ryandikayo be referred to the authorities of Rwanda, who will then refer the same to the High Court of Rwanda. 
The Prosecution was further ordered to hand over to the Prosecutor General of Rwanda, as soon as possible and no later than thirty days after the Decision has become final, the material supporting the Indictment against the fugitive accused and all other appropriate evidentiary material in the possession of the Prosecution.

In rendering this judgment, the Referral Chamber expressed its solemn hope that the Republic of Rwanda, in accepting referrals from this Tribunal, will put into practice the commitments it has made about its good faith, capacity, and willingness to enforce the highest standards of international justice.

For information only - Not an official document

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