Repression must play role in fighting corruption

Combatting corruption must be accompanied with repression, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico at a seminar on corruption whistle-blowers in Bratislava on Tuesday with Police President Tibor Gašpar in attendance. "Repression has to play a more important role; repression that will be sufficiently covered by the media; repression that will be sufficiently discussed; repression that won't leave anyone in peace," said Fico. According to Gašpar, the police are trying to increase their activities in this area. "We're hiring more people, modernising technology and the equipment we use," he said in response to Fico's speech. OECD representatives which also took part in the seminar are currently preparing legislative changes for Slovakia that should increase the protection of whistle-blowers. Director of the non-governmental organisation Transparency International Slovakia (TIS) Gabriel Šípoš told the seminar that according to TIS's latest survey on reporting corruption, people are mainly afraid of taking action due to the fear of losing their job, or because nothing will come of it.