Amnesty International calls on the Burundian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release five human rights defenders detained simply on account of their human rights work. Germain Rukuki, whose trial started today, Nestor Nibitanga, Emmanuel Nshimirimana, Aimé Constant Gatore and Marius Nizigiyimana are all charged with threatening state security. Amnesty International considers the five men to be prisoners of conscience as they have been imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.
