"This decision marks another step forward in the fight against impunity and is a welcome reminder of the universality of human rights. Perpetrators of such crimes must know that wherever they are, they will be found, prosecuted, and convicted," declared Antonin Gravelin, attorney at Vigo law firm and representative of FIDH and LDH on this case.
The present proceedings were initiated following a complaint filed in January 2000 by FIDH and LDH, which had been informed of Laurent Bucyibaruta’s presence in France.
"While the judicial investigation was abnormally long, the conviction is nevertheless an immense relief for the Tutsi survivors of the Gikongoro prefecture, who have been waiting for justice for far too long," said Patrick Baudouin, LDH president and honorary president of FIDH.
Laurent Bacyibaruta is the fourth person convicted by French courts for international crimes committed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, thanks to the application of universal jurisdiction.