The Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO) criticised statements by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD) regarding the withdrawal of protection from a group of police officers centered around Jan Čurilla. The UOO considers public calls for the withdrawal of protection without respect for statutory conditions unacceptable, Alexandra Znasikova of the UOO stated on Tuesday.
"Whistleblower protection is a statutory instrument, not a privilege that can be withdrawn on the basis of a political stance or a public statement. Decisions on its termination or withdrawal may be made exclusively in accordance with the procedure laid down by law and on statutory grounds," the UOO said.
The office also pointed out that the grounds for the termination of preventive protection are clearly defined by law. The mere conclusion of criminal proceedings without criminal activity being proven does not automatically mean that protection ends, it said. In such cases, the law stipulates that protection expires "three years after the conclusion of criminal proceedings or proceedings concerning an administrative offence", while also providing for other specific grounds for its termination.
"Such statements send a dangerous signal to the public that whistleblower protection is not governed by predictable rules applied equally to everyone, but may be subject to the influence of those in power," the UOO underlined. It therefore called on all public officials to respect the legislation in force and refrain from making public statements that could contribute to legal uncertainty for current or future whistleblowers.
The Interior Minister said at a news conference on Monday, 12 October, that he had sent a letter to the Office of the Prosecutor-General asking for the officers' protection to be withdrawn as soon as possible, arguing that the Denouement case had been closed and was "made up".
Source: TASR
