Eskinder Nega is an Ethiopian journalist, blogger, and advocate for press freedom. He has been imprisoned seven times by the Ethiopian government for his outspoken criticism of its unfair elections. During these previous detentions, Amnesty International declared Nega a prisoner of conscience and mobilized widespread support for his release. In 2012, Nega was sentenced to 18 years in prison on alleged charges of treason, and was marked as a terrorist for his work as a journalist. The following year, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared that his sentence violated international law. Nega was unconditionally released on February 14, 2018. His commitment to journalistic integrity, freedom of expression, and human rights has been recognized worldwide by outlets such as PEN America, the World Association of Newspapers, and the International Press Institute.