On 12 December 2006, the Federal Supreme Court found guilty 77 top Derg officials accused by the government of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) over the Red Terror (1976–1978).

The Special Prosecutor Office (SPO) was launched in 1992 to investigate human rights violations committed in the Derg regime, and the first trial began in 1994.

In November 1974, the execution of 60 officials of the former Haile Selassie government without any trial initiated a 17-year phase of political repression in the country.

"[3] Following their defeat in Addis Ababa on 28 May 1991, the rebel coalition and future ruling party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), began detaining approximately 1,900 of the Derg members.

[4] Amid the transitional government in 1992, the Special Prosecutor Office (SPO) was launched in order to investigate human rights violations, and submitted the first charge against 73 Derg officials to the Central High Court in October 1994.

[citation needed] On 13 August 2004, 33 top former Derg officials were presented in trial for genocide and other human rights violations during the Red Terror.