On 18 February 2015 Bob Rugurika, a journalist and the director of the very popular African Public Radio (RPA) was released on bail by the Bujumbura-Mairie court of appeal. Bob Rugurika, has been in prison since 20 January for "conspiracy to murder”, following a broadcast on RPA about the 7 September 2014 assassination of three Italian nuns. These charges are clearly connected to his work as an investigative journalist and his inquiries that suggested the involvement of some senior Burundi officials.
FIDH and its member organisation, Iteka, which carried out a fact-finding mission to Burundi, were able to visit Bob Rugurika on 14 February and urged the Burundi authorities to release him immediately. Our organisations request that the charges against Bob Rugurika be dropped and that an independent investigation be opened on the assassination of the three Italian nuns.
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