Protected whistleblower Mária Koranová returned to work as chief economist at Košice Emergency Medical Service on 1 April.
In 2019, she raised suspicions of several economic crimes at the company. Shortly after she filed a criminal complaint, her employer fired her. Koranová appealed to the then newly established Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO), which suspended her dismissal.
Košice Municipal Court in 2024 and Košice Regional Court in March 2025 ruled that the dismissal was unlawful and discriminatory.
"Mária is proof that whistleblower protection works in Slovakia and serves as encouragement to other courageous people," said Let's Stop Corruption Foundation director Zuzana Petková.
Even though courts twice ruled that the dismissal was invalid, Koranova's employer filed an appeal with the Supreme Court instead of reinstating her. After UOO brought the situation to the attention of Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD), the emergency medical service's management changed its attitude and began negotiating with Koranová concerning her future post.
At a new conference on Wednesday, 8 April, Koranová said that she's very happy to have returned to her position.
Source: TASR
