Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda about the 1994 genocide, has written a letter from prison on his choice of Rwandan legal representatives, according to one of the chosen lawyers who is based in Belgium.

Up to now he has been represented in court by two lawyers who his family said were picked by the prosecution.

Mr Rusesabagina has been charged with terrorism and murder among other 13 counts. He has not yet entered a plea.

Lawyer Vincent Lurquin told journalists on Thursday that he received a letter from Mr Rusesabagina during a recent visit to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, in which he picked Mr Lurquin and Gatera Gashabana from a list of seven names drawn up by his family.

But the two lawyers were reportedly denied access to their client.

“I don’t see why Rwanda blocked me from seeing and assisting my client, a Belgian citizen, on a case that started in Belgium,” Mr Lurquin said.

Mr Rusesabagina was denied bail early this month and is detained at a prison in Kigali.