His arrest has divided public opinion. Critics, including Rusesabagina's adopted daughter Carine Kanimba have protested against his arrest. Kanimba claimed: "What they're accusing him of is all made up. There is no evidence to what they're claiming...We know this is a wrongful arrest". Rusesabagina's lawyers have argued that the arrest was motivated by Rusesabagina's outspoken criticism of the Rwandan government, in line with other arrests and disappearances of dissidents under the presidency of Paul Kagame. They have also argued that his flight to Rwanda was illegal under international law and constitutes extraordinary rendition. The Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, admitted in February 2021 that the Rwandan government had paid for the private jet that brought Rusesabagina to Kigali on an interview with Marc Lamont Hill on Al Jazeera.