The prosecution in Denmark is seeking a 20-year prison sentence for 57-year-old Wenceslas Twagirayezu, a Danish citizen, for his alleged involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Special prosecutor André Pape argued for the sentence in the Court in Hillerød, stating it was appropriate considering Twagirayezu’s alleged participation in episodes where thousands of ethnic Tutsis were killed.

The case revolves around converting a Rwandan court’s judgment into a Danish judgment, allowing Twagirayezu to serve his sentence in Denmark. Twagirayezu, a resident of Smørumnedre, was extradited to Rwanda in 2018 on suspicion of participating in the genocide.

The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994 amidst a bloody ethnic conflict that followed the death of the country’s president. Twagirayezu, who arrived in Denmark in 2001 and later became a citizen, was targeted by Rwandan authorities during the legal settlement following the genocide.

Twagirayezu, a former school teacher in Rwanda, has consistently denied his involvement in the genocide. Initially, he was acquitted by a Rwandan court of first instance due to conflicting witness testimonies. However, this decision was overturned on appeal, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July of last year.

The prosecution in Denmark argues that a 20-year sentence is appropriate under Danish law, as international rules dictate that the converted sentence cannot be more severe than the original. Twagirayezu’s lawyer is seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing that the court cannot fairly assess guilt based on the existing legal basis.

If the dismissal claim is denied, Twagirayezu’s lawyer argues that the sentence should be reduced to 12 years. Twagirayezu has been in custody for approximately eight years and will remain detained until the verdict, which is scheduled to be delivered by the Court in Hillerød on June 10.