Slovak whistleblower office criticizes Interior Minister's remarks

The Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers (ÚOO) has criticized Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok for his public calls to revoke the protection of a group of police officers known as the ‘Čurillovci’.

During a press conference, Šutaj Eštok urged the General Prosecutor's Office to withdraw the whistleblower status from these officers following the conclusion of the ‘Rozuzlenie’ case, which he claimed was ‘invented’. He argued that because the criminal proceedings ended without proof of criminal activity, their protection should be removed immediately.

The ÚOO responded by stating that whistleblower protection is a legal institute, not a privilege that can be revoked based on political stances or public statements. The office emphasized that the termination of criminal proceedings does not automatically result in the loss of protection; according to the law, such protection typically expires three years after the conclusion of the proceedings or under specific legal conditions.

The ÚOO warned that the Minister's statements send a ‘dangerous signal’ to citizens that legal protections are subject to political influence rather than predictable rules, potentially creating legal uncertainty for current and future whistleblowers.