Ethiopia has finally released Andargachew Tsige, the co-founder, and secretary-general of Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 (AG7), Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy. In the same day, the Attorney General confirmed that active criminal charges against Dr. Berhanu Nega, leader of AG7 were dropped.
Andargachew was released this afternoon after speculations of his release gripped the country since yesterday.
He is currently at his family’s house in Bole, Olympia area.
The 63 years old father of three, Andargachew, a.k.a Andy, has been in an Ethiopian prison for the last four years after Ethiopian security forces have kidnapped him from Sana’a airport in Yemen and renditioned him secretly to Ethiopia where he was already sentenced to death in 2009.
In a similar development, the Attorney General office confirmed this afternoon that criminal charges against Jawar Mohammed, a prominent Oromo activist and Executive Director of the Oromo Media Network (OMN), has been discontinued.
Dr. Berhanu and Jawar were the second and third defendants in absentia under the infamous criminal charges file under Dr. Merera Gudina, leader of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), who was released in March after his charges were also dropped.
The Attorney General’s office has also said charges against two foreign-based media organizations, OMN and Ethiopia Satellite Television (ESAT) were dropped.
Both institutions were charged under the country’s repressive anti-terrorism law.
