The text of the Draft Law on Whistleblower Protection is in the final stage of harmonization with the comments of the European Commission, and the Ministry of Justice expects that the Government will send it to the Parliament of Montenegro in June.
From the Ministry of Justice, headed by Bojan Božović, "Vijesti" said that this is an improved text of the Bill which, after final approval by the European Commission, will be sent to the Government for approval, and then to the Parliament for adoption.
This law is one of the key ones for strengthening trust in the system, especially in a country where the decision to report corruption still often means personal and professional risk for the one who speaks out, the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption assessed.
They argue that it is not enough to simply prescribe protection for whistleblowers, but that citizens must see concrete examples that those who report corruption are truly protected, that institutions act professionally, and that reports do not remain without an epilogue.
Director of ASK Kristina Braletić She told "Vijesti" that the 2024 Law on the Prevention of Corruption brought significant innovations in the area of whistleblower protection, among which the introduction of exclusively judicial protection stands out.
She stated that Article 60, paragraph 2 of that law is particularly significant, which stipulates that the Agency, at the request of a whistleblower who has initiated court proceedings due to the damage suffered, may provide legal, financial, psychological and other professional assistance.
"That is precisely why the Cooperation Agreement between the Clinical Center of Montenegro and the Agency was signed in July 2025, with the aim of establishing stronger and systemic support for whistleblowers, especially in the area of psychological assistance to persons exposed to pressure during proceedings," said Braletić.
Reporting is still a risky decision
Braletić pointed out that practice shows that whistleblowers often continue to experience serious professional and personal pressure, which is why, she said, it is important to further improve their protection mechanisms and encourage people to report corruption without fear of consequences.
"A special Law on Whistleblower Protection is expected this year, and ASK participated in its preparation by providing professional expertise. We expect that the new legal solution will further improve this area, strengthen the protection system and contribute to fuller harmonisation with European Union standards," said Braletić.
Speaking about what is needed for citizens, public sector employees and officials to have more confidence to report corruption, she said that a certain increase in trust in institutional mechanisms already exists, which, she claims, is supported by the continuous influx of reports to the Agency.
However, she warned that the decision to report corruption is often not an easy one.
"That is why it is extremely important for people to see concrete examples that those who reported corruption were protected, that institutions acted professionally, and that the report did not remain without an epilogue. It is precisely positive experiences and visible results that contribute most to strengthening trust in the system," said Braletić.
She added that it is difficult to expect full trust in corruption reporting mechanisms if there is no broader citizen trust in institutions, legal certainty and the rule of law.
"That is precisely why these are two processes that must be strengthened in parallel - both the protection of those who report corruption and the overall trust of citizens in the institutions of the system," said the ASK director.
Distinguish between errors and concealment of assets
The Ministry of Justice previously told "Vijesti" that the Law on the Prevention of Corruption should also be amended by the end of June.
Braletić, speaking about reports on the assets of public officials, said that it is necessary to make a clear distinction between formal irregularities and cases that may essentially indicate corruption.
She explained that some of the irregularities recorded by the Agency relate to technical errors or administrative errors in completing reports, and not necessarily to attempts to conceal assets or income.
"However, the law must be respected and in these cases the Agency will act in accordance with its jurisdiction and initiate misdemeanor proceedings," said Braletić.
She emphasized that the number of initiated misdemeanor proceedings in ASK is not seen as a measure of success, but primarily as a signal in which segments the system needs to be further improved.
"Therefore, we consider it important that future amendments to the law enable more efficient targeting of the Agency's resources to more complex and risky cases," said Braletić.
According to her, cases in which there are indications of undeclared assets of greater value or a discrepancy between declared income and assets are subject to in-depth checks by the Agency and cooperation with other competent authorities.
"It is in this area that we are strengthening control mechanisms, analytical capacities and inter-institutional cooperation," she added.
ASK needs more people
Braletić said that she sees room for more concrete results in all areas of the Agency's work - from controlling the assets of officials and conflicts of interest, to party financing, lobbying and whistleblower protection.
"The fight against corruption requires continuous improvement of the institution and adaptation to increasingly complex challenges. However, in order for the Agency to achieve even more visible results, additional investment in human and technical capacities is necessary, which will be one of the key priorities of my leadership," said Braletić.
She stated that the Agency has quality and experienced people who have been carrying a large part of the anti-corruption system for years, but that it is important to create an environment in which their knowledge and professionalism will be further valued.
Special focus, she said, will be on strengthening professional capacities, better organization of work, and creating conditions for more efficient action in all areas of work.
Braletić warned that the Agency has been operating with an insufficient number of employees for a long time, while its competencies and obligations are continuously expanding, especially in the context of European integration and announced legal changes.
"In addition, the Agency's budget is still below the legally prescribed minimum, which directly affects its operational and financial independence," she said.
Therefore, as she concluded, further development of institutional capacities is crucial so that ASK can respond more decisively, efficiently and proactively to challenges in the fight against corruption.
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