According to information provided to the International Press Institute (IPI), on 28 June, the Ethiopian authorities arrested four editors for apparent defamation of the Ethiopian air force. An Ethiopian court later released the editors on bail of approximately US$230 each.

The editors, Dawit Fassil, Asqual News, Zelalem Gebre, Menilik newspaper, Befekadu Moreda, Tomar newspaper and Tamrat Serbesa, Satenaw newspaper, were arrested for reporting that 8 pilots from the air force, who were on a training programme in Belarus, had sought asylum. The request for asylum came in the wake of social unrest following accusations of fraud at the 15 May parliamentary elections.

Commenting on the arrests of the editors, IPI Director, Johann P. Fritz said, "The story of the air force pilots was a legitimate news story that warranted press coverage. The Ethiopian government must stop harassing independent journalists in Ethiopia merely because their stories cause embarrassment or are viewed as being inconvenient."

"Editorial independence is central to a free and open media environment and newspapers must have the right to choose the stories that they wish to cover, no matter how badly these stories reflect on the government. By interfering in this manner, the Ethiopian government is damaging this settled principle and attempting to influence the free flow of information in the lead up to the declaration of the official election results on 8 July," commented Fritz

"Such interferences also create unnecessary tensions and there is a real need for those in power to reflect on their actions and to devise a policy that is founded on accepting the right of journalists to practice their profession without fear of retaliation."