By Muluken Tekleyohanes
General Manager & Editor-in-Chief, Ambassador Media
Three years behind bars without a verdict is not justice—it is punishment.
The continued imprisonment of Ethiopian journalists Gobeze Sisay, Meskerem Abera, Genet Asmamaw, Dawit Begashaw, and Abay Zewdu is another devastating reminder of the deep crisis facing press freedom in Ethiopia. These journalists have spent years in detention simply for reporting on events surrounding the conflict in the Amhara region.
The four journalists arrested in April 2023 remain in prison on terrorism charges that could carry the death penalty if they are convicted. Although a federal court ruled in February 2026 that prosecutors had presented enough evidence for the case to continue, repeated court delays have postponed the next hearing until November 19, leaving them trapped in prolonged pretrial detention.
Meanwhile, journalist Abay Zewdu, arrested in August 2023 shortly after the declaration of the state of emergency, continues to wait as the court has yet to determine whether the prosecution has even presented sufficient evidence for his case to proceed. His hearings are expected to resume in October.
This is not due process. It is justice delayed and rights denied.
Prolonged pretrial detention destroys lives, careers, and families. When journalists are held for years without a final judgment, the legal process itself becomes a tool of punishment. Such practices undermine the rule of law and silence independent reporting through fear.
As the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has emphasized, Ethiopian authorities must stop treating journalists as terrorists and instead guarantee prompt, fair, and transparent legal proceedings that fully respect due process and fundamental human rights.
At Ambassador Media, these developments are deeply personal.
Our journalists and media workers have repeatedly faced similar accusations from the Ethiopian government. Our newsroom was targeted, our office was shut down, our work was criminalized, and our journalists were subjected to intimidation and persecution. I, too, was detained and repeatedly accused under similar allegations because of my journalism. The escalating threats against my life and my colleagues ultimately forced me to flee Ethiopia and seek safety in Germany.
Our experience reflects a broader pattern in which independent journalism is portrayed as a security threat rather than a cornerstone of democracy. Reporting facts, questioning those in power, and giving a voice to citizens must never be equated with terrorism.
Despite these attacks, Ambassador Media remains committed to independent journalism, truth, and accountability. We will continue to document abuses, amplify the voices of persecuted journalists, and stand in solidarity with all media professionals who risk their freedom to inform the public.
We call upon the Ethiopian government to immediately uphold its constitutional and international obligations by ensuring fair judicial proceedings, ending the misuse of terrorism laws against journalists, and protecting press freedom. We also urge the international community, human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and media freedom advocates to intensify pressure for the release of imprisoned journalists and to hold those responsible for violations against the press accountable.
A free press is not the enemy of the state.
A free press is the foundation of justice, accountability, and democracy.
Until every imprisoned journalist is free, the struggle for press freedom in Ethiopia continues.
EDITORIAL: Ethiopia Cannot Hold Elections While It Imprisons Its Critics by Muluken Tekleyohanes | Ambassador Media