[1] He studied agricultural production at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and received a bachelor's degree in 1982.

[4][5] In this period he received criticism for the low taxation rate that Canadian mining company Iamgold had to pay.

[6] Since June 2012 Rusland is leader of the National Party of Suriname, taking over leadership from Ronald Venetiaan.

[5][7] He won the internal party election against Ivan Fernald, with Rusland winning seven out of eleven districts.

[9] On 23 April 2020, after the public prosecutor had indicated that it wanted to prosecute Finance Minister Gillmore Hoefdraad for mismanagement at the Central Bank of Suriname, Rusland stated that Hoedraad should immediately offer his position to the President.

[10][11] On 30 May 2020, five days after the 2020 Surinamese general election was held, and with the official results still pending, Rusland and the leaders of the Progressive Reform Party, General Liberation and Development Party and Pertjajah Luhur signed an agreement to form a coalition government.