NGO 35mm, on the occasion of Whistleblower Month, and in cooperation with The Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection, European Center for Whistleblower Rights and Whistleblowing International, launched the campaign ”Speak up”. The campaign aims to encourage individuals, organizations, and groups of citizens to expose examples of embezzlement, corruption, corporate fraud, abuse of office, and other related issues concerning the public’s right to know.
Ganija Jasavic – the former Head of the Regional Unit of the Forest Administration in Municipality of Plav, is the winner of the Whistleblower of the Year category. Mr. Jasavic publicly stated that the former director of the Forest Administration Nusret Kalač, without the consent of the forest administration in Plav, approved the concessionaire “Pelengić Trade” from Bijelo Polje to cut the highest quality forest in the municipality of Plav, at three times lower price. The Government relieved Nusret Kalac of his duties as Director of the Forest Administration in February 2021.
The other nominees in this category were: Elvis Berisa, Vasilije Milickovic, Boris Raickovic, Nenad Pizurica, and Kristijan Dukaj.
The institution that has shown the most transparent work award will go to the Ministry of the Interior. According to those who nominated this institution, this particular Ministry duly answers journalists’ questions and free access to information requests. They also pointed out that the officials of this state body provide accurate statements to the media and do not hide facts. Also, they are open to suggestions of the NGO sector – which was not the case before.
According to the commission members, the organization that has contributed the most to the freedom of speech is KOD Organization from Podgorica.
Other non-governmental organizations nominated in the same category are Network for Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS), Center for Affirmation of the RE Population (CAREP), KANA/ Who if not architect, NGO Educational Community of Montenegro, and Center for Democracy and Human Rights – CEDEM.
According to the nominations, The “Golden Patch” award goes to the Real Estate Administration, as the institution that has shown the least transparent work.
Apart from the Real Estate Administration, other nominees in this category were the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Education.
The award ceremony will happen on April 29 in Podgorica, followed by three thematic panel discussions.
Panel I – Institutions and transparency: burden, obligation, or a logical attitude towards citizens?
Our guests on this panel will be Mr. Sinisa Bjekovic – the Ombudsman, and Mr. Sergej Sekulovic – Minister of the Interior.
Panel II – Whistleblowers: From being a hero to becoming a target
Panel dedicated to the individuals. Our guests for this discussion will be Mrs. Patricia Pobric – a civil activist and a whistleblower; and this years’ award-winning whistleblower Mr. Ganija Jasavić – former Director of the Forest Administration in the Municipality of Plav.
Panel III – Freedom of speech in the service of democracy
The guests of the third panel are Mr. Lazar Grdinic – the NGO MANS Research center, and Mr. Srdan Peric from the Organization KOD.
We invite the interested public to follow us live on social networks on April 29 from 11 AM or via the Zoom application where the English translation of the event will be provided (https://zoom.us/j/94890795040).
To discuss, to warn, and to reward!
Click here for more:
https://nvo35mm.me/news/events/239
