Daniel Bekele, a policy manager at ActionAid Ethiopia was arrested on November 1 2005.

This is the timeline of a trial which has now lasted more than two years.

28 March 2008 At 16:30 local time Daniel and Netsanet are released after 28 months in prison. Friends, relatives and ActionAid colleagues were there to give them an emotional welcome.

26 December 2007 The court announces prison sentences of two and a half years each. Since Daniel and Netsanet have already spent more than two years in detention, there is a strong possibility that they will be freed on parole. Unusually, the judge heaps praise on the two men before reading out the court's ruling.

24 December 2007 The High Court acquits Daniel and Netsanet of treason but finds them guilty of a lesser charge of ‘provocation and preparation’.

30 November 2007 The verdict is postponed once again and this time, it's until 24 December. The sick judge is not returning to the case and a new one has been appointed and needs time to study the evidence.

22 November 2007 The verdict is postponed again because a judge is in hospital.

9 October 2007 The presiding judge tells the court that the bench needs more time to examine the final statements of the prosecution and the defence and to prepare their verdict. The court is adjourned for 45 days to reconvene on 22nd November 2007.

1 October 2007 Having received a copy of the prosecution’s final remarks Daniel and Netsanet´s lawyer delivers the written closing statement for the defence to the High Court.

25 August 2007 Prosecutors request more time to complete their written closing statement to the Court. New deadline is set for 27 September. The defence statement has to be presented on 1 October. The date of the next session of the Court remains unchanged as 9 October.

6 August 2007 On the final day of the legal year the Supreme Court hears Daniel and Netsanet´s further appeal for bail. They learn from the court registrar later in August that their appeal was rejected.

4 August 2007 The final defence witnesses are called. In all 29 witnesses were called by the defence over 4 days. The defendants present 300 pages of documentary evidence to the Court. The Court adjourns for the legal vacation and fixes the next session for 9 October when the judges expect to give their verdict. The prosecutors are instructed to present their summing up in writing to the Court by 25 August and the defence to present their final representations in writing five days later.

27 July 2007 Daniel and Netsanet begin presenting their defence.

25 July 2007 Daniel and Netsanet are now the last two still on trial, after five other defendants change their pleas to guilty and two more decide to prevent no further evidence.

20 July 2007 Ethiopian government pardons the 38 convicted prisoners who were sentenced four days earlier. All have signed a document recognizing their actions as unconstitutional.

19 July 2007 Two petitions to the Supreme Court fail. One is a further attempt by Daniel and Netsanet to secure bail. The other is an appeal against the judges’ ruling, after hearing the prosecution evidence, that the two have a case to answer. Both are dismissed on procedural grounds.

16 July 2007 The 38 prisoners convicted in June are sentenced. Most receive life sentences.

12 July 2007 Daniel and Netsanet are again refused bail.

11 June 2007 At least 38 of those on trial are found guilty, having offered no defence. For others, including Daniel and Netsanet, the trial continues.

April 5 2007 After meeting several times between February and April, the court rules that Daniel and Netsanet have a case to answer.

March 5 2007 Amharic translations of prosecution documents were distributed to defendants. The judge asked them to submit any response by 9 March. The court adjourned until 23 March.

February 19 2007 Court meets briefly and adjourns again until 5 March.

November 29 2006 Prosecution concludes its evidence. Court adjourned until February 2007.

November 6 2006 Daniel and Netsanet’s lawyer made a formal complaint and asked for an adjournment as they were psychologically unable to continue with the cross-examinations. Daniel and Netsanet explained to the judges what had happened and asked to be reunited in the prison. After a brief recess, the bench ruled unanimously that they be urgently reunited in their original accommodation. The hearing was then adjourned until Thursday 9 November.

November 3 2006 In an all-day court session, Daniel and Netsanet cross-examined three prosecution witnesses. In the evening on return to the prison they were moved from the accommodation they have shared for the last six months, and separated. After a night on a mattress in a large metal container, Daniel was moved on Saturday to a very crowded area of the prison. Netsanet was similarly isolated on Friday night and then on Saturday moved to a different area, in a room with some 300 other prisoners.

13 October 2006 The defendants heard that the new prosecution evidence would be admitted.

5 October 2006 After a brief session on the court adjourned for another eight days.

4 August 2006 Federal High Court adjourns for vacation until 5 October.

3 August 2006 Cassation Bench rejects Daniel and Netsanet’s bail appeal by a 2:1 majority. Read the Cassation Bench ruling.

6 July 2006 Preliminary hearing by the Cassation Bench of Daniel and Netsanet’s bail appeal.

3 July 2006 End of audio evidence. Prosecution begins to present documentary evidence.

29 June 2006 Prosecution begins to present audio evidence.

5 June 2006 Daniel and Netsanet appeal to the Cassation Bench against the decisions of the Federal High Court and Supreme Court denying them bail. Read Daniel and Netsanet’s application to the Cassation Bench.

8 May 2006 Federal High Court reconvenes at a new location close to Kaliti prison. Prosecution begins to present video evidence.

2 May 2006 Court hears prosecution’s opening statement and agrees that video, audio and documentary evidence will be presented prior to witness testimonies.

22 March 2006 Federal High Court rules that the prosecution need not reveal identities of witnesses at this stage. Charges dropped against 18 of the accused, including VOA journalists. Court announces that trial proper will begin on 2 May and run continuously. Court rules that Daniel and Netsanet and their lawyers will be able to hear prosecution witnesses, and cross-examine them, before presenting their defence.

10 March Supreme Court upholds the decision not to grant Daniel and Netsanet bail.

6 March Daniel and Netsanet attend Supreme Court again but case is immediately adjourned because of the continuing illness of one of the three judges.

3 March 2006 Daniel and Netsanet called to Supreme Court unexpectedly. Prosecution asks for a second chance to state its case against bail.

1 March 2006 Federal High Court refuses requests for separate trial and details of charges. Daniel and Netsanet (and Kassahun Kebede) formally plead not guilty. The other defendants refuse to plead.

24 Feb 2006 Supreme Court hears appeal against the denial of bail. Prosecution does not attend court.

23 Feb 2006 Daniel and Netsanet (and Kassahun Kebede) petition Federal High Court to be tried separately from the other defendants, and to be given details of the charges against them.

22 Feb 2006 In a statement reported by government-run Ethiopian News Agency and on Ethiopian TV, the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice accuses ActionAid of illegal actions to influence the legal process.

21 Jan 2006 Appeal lodged to the Supreme Court, against the refusal of bail.

4 Jan 2006 Daniel and Netsanet are charged along with 129 others with ‘the crime of outrage against the Constitution and the constitutional order.’ Bail refused for second time.

21 Dec 2005 In court. First refusal of bail. Prisoners moved to Kaliti prison.

16 Dec 2005 Daniel and Netsanet appear in Federal High Court for the fourth time.

8 Nov 2005 Netsanet Demissie, hearing there is a warrant for his arrest, walks into a police station and gives himself up.

2 Nov 2005 ActionAid contacts human rights organisations, AfricaUnion commissioners, EU officials, diplomats and legislators.

1 Nov 2005 Daniel Bekele arrested