In a statement issued on October 3, 2025, the international journalists' rights organization CPJ announced that the editor of Sheger FM radio, Tugsit Zerihun, and reporter Mentamar Tsegau, who had been in prison for three weeks, had been released from prison

The institution expressed its satisfaction with the release of the journalists and requested the Ethiopian authoritiesto withdraw the criminal charges against the journalists completelys and that the justice system respect the freedom of the press.

Following the journalists' arrest, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Organization for the Protection of Journalists' Rights (CPJ) jointly requested the unconditional release of reporter Mentamar Tsegaw and editor Tigest Zerihun of Sheger FM radio station.

At the time, CPJ's Africa program coordinator, Mutoki Mumo, said, "It is important for the people of Ethiopia to receive independent reports on health," and added, "It is very worrying that the authorities are responding to this issue with censorship and control."