TransparencyAbuse of power & retaliationPolice & jail misconduct
Addis Standard managing editor is seized by plainclothes men in Ethiopia and held 13 days; police say he was not in their custody
Confidence: Corroborated · 2 sourcesEthiopia · Oct 6, 2026
Subject of this story
Federal Police of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa Police Commission
Also named
Affected
Million Beyene, Managing Editor, Addis Standard
Addis Standard
Advocate
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Human Rights Watch
What happened
On 15 April 2026 men in plain clothes took Million Beyene, managing editor of Addis Standard, from the newsroom, saying he was 'needed for questioning'. Federal and Addis Ababa police spokespeople told CPJ they had no information or that he was not in federal police custody, and several stations told the publisher he was not held. He was released on 28 April without charge, and HRW says authorities have not publicly explained his detention.
Sources (2)
Committee to Protect JournalistsFederal Police spokesman said Beyene was not detained by federal police; Addis Ababa Police said it 'did not have any information'.
Human Rights WatchSeized by plainclothes men and held incommunicado for nearly two weeks before release without charges; authorities have not publicly explained his detention.
Response
Federal Police of Ethiopia
Declined to comment
Contacted — no response by publication.
Addis Ababa Police Commission
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.