Ethiopian court passed prison sentences in absentia on three publishers.

The defendants were charged two months ago with “incitement and dissemination of false rumors intended to cause a violent overthrow of the constitutional order and to undermine the public trust on the government”.

They were tried in absentia, as they fled the country following the filling of the charges.

The Court passed a guilty verdict last week and sentenced them yesterday.

* Endalkachew Tesfaye Arge – manager of Rose publishing P.L.C. – the publisher of the weekly by Addis Guday Magazine, was sentenced to 3years and 3 months in prison.

* Gizaw Taye Hordofa – manager of ; Dadimos publishing P.L.C , which publishes the weekly Lomi Magazine, was sentenced to 3years and 3months in prison.

* Fatuma Nuriya – manager of Yofa publishing P.L.C; publisher of the weekly Fact Magazine, was sentenced to 3years and 11 months in prison.

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