Burundi: lawyer Tony Germain Nkina released

His release took place on Tuesday morning. A week ago, this former Burundian activist was acquitted by the Ngozi Court of Appeal (northern Burundi) before the Ngozi prosecutor’s office objected. IDHB’s Carina Tertsakian speaks of ‘good news’. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Lawyer Tony Germain Nkina was freed on Tuesday morning, prison sources confirmed to SOS Médias Burundi.

Sources close to his family have also confirmed his release.

“He is free to move around and has returned to his family”, sources close to his family told our reporters in northeastern Burundi.

For Carina Tertsakian of the IDHB (Initiative for Human Rights in Burundi), this is good news.

“I am very relieved to learn that lawyer Tony Germain Nkina has finally been released after being acquitted last week. This is great news. He should not have been arrested or spent more than two years in prison, but Finally, justice has done its job.
By acquitting him, judges of the Ngozi Court of Appeal demonstrated their objectivity and independence, as there was no evidence to justify charges against him, let alone his conviction. This is an important step forward for justice in Burundi”, she reacted.

On December 20, the Ngozi Court of Appeal acquitted this former Burundian activist and his co-accused Appolinaire Hitimana before the prosecution at the Ngozi Court of Appeal opposed it the next day, wishing to maintain the ruling of the first judge who had sentenced him to five years’ jail and a fine of one million Burundi francs, which several human rights groups had denounced and described as illegal.