Ethiopian authorities released two opposition party members and a lawyer without charges on Friday and Saturday, according to one of their legal representatives. The three men had spent months in detention after being arrested in August under accusations of plotting terrorist attacks.
Those freed include Yisak Wolday, head of public relations for the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, and party member Abebe Akalu. Abera Nigus, a lawyer who has frequently represented members of the same opposition group, was also released from custody.
Security forces detained the trio on August 3. Police charge sheets accused the men of an "intent to seize power by force," alleging they had "planned and coordinated to carry out terrorist acts."
Mebrihi Brhane, who represents Abera, confirmed the releases after speaking with the freed men. "Two of them were released yesterday, and one this morning, all three were let go without any charges," he said.
The lawyer stated that the detentions violated judicial rulings. "They should have been released a long time ago," he said, noting that the High Court had ordered their release on bail on August 4.
"But they were still held in prison illegally, just to harass them," he added.
The releases come amid a crackdown on political dissent in Ethiopia, a nation targeted by human rights organisations for suppressing critical voices. Before the June 1 elections, which were swept entirely by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party, the EPRP operated as one of the administration’s most vocal critics. The opposition party failed to secure any seats in the legislature.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed initially received international praise as a reformer and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. His administration has faced growing criticism over political freedoms and the treatment of dissidents.
Media watchdogs say government pressure extends beyond political figures. According to Reporters Without Borders, five journalists remain imprisoned in the country.
