The managing editor of Addis Standard, seized by masked men in mid-April, has been released, the outlet announced Tuesday.
The independent Ethiopian news site said Million Beyene was returned to his family, legal team, and colleagues after weeks in custody.
Jakenn Publishing, the outlet’s publisher, accused intelligence officers of orchestrating the abduction, rejecting what it described as an unlawful detention.
Beyene was taken from the newsroom on April 15 by unidentified men in plain clothes, who claimed he was needed for questioning.
Security footage showed at least three masked individuals entering the office, approaching Beyene, and escorting him to an undisclosed location.
Authorities contacted by the publisher denied holding Beyene, deepening concerns over enforced disappearance and lack of accountability.
The Addis Standard, one of Ethiopia’s few independent media outlets, had its licence revoked in February over alleged threats to national interests.
Jakenn said the incident highlighted growing pressure on independent journalism and the risks faced by reporters in the country.
The publisher called for stronger protections, warning that intimidation and coercion undermine both press freedom and the rule of law.
Ethiopia, home to around 130 million people, ranks 145th out of 180 countries in the latest global press freedom index.
The case, unfolding in shadows and silence, has renewed scrutiny over the fragile state of media independence in the nation.