KIGALI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Jailed Rwandan politician Victoire Ingabire was released early from prison on Saturday together with the other over 2,100 inmates who were pardoned by Rwandan President Paul Kagame the day before.
Ingabire was sentenced to 15 years in 2013 by the Supreme Court after being found guilty of conspiring to harm the country through terror and minimizing the 1994's Rwandan genocide against Tutsi.
Her release from prison is a clear indication of the beginning of opening up political space in Rwanda, Ingabire told reporters shortly after being set free from Mageragere Prison in the Rwandan capital Kigali.
Her early release and allowing other political parties to freely operate gives her hope that this is "the beginning of opening up of political space in Rwanda," she said.
"Many things have been achieved in the country and there is a lot to be achieved when we work together," she added.
She also requested Kagame to release other jailed members of her political party.
The inmates released on Saturday include popular musician Kizito Mihigo, who was sentenced to 10 years in 2015 by the High Court in Kigali after being found guilty of conspiracy to overthrow the Rwandan government and conspiracy to form alliance with negative forces bent on destabilizing the government.
