Silence is No Longer an Option: KNAB Takes Control of Whistleblowers 0 11

He emphasized that raising the alarm concerns not only the civil service, corruption, or conflicts of interest. "It applies to any member of society in any part of it," said Straume, urging people to be those who raise the alarm if such a situation arises.

Straume acknowledged that raising the alarm is one of the cornerstones in the fight against corruption. It also assists in the work of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB).

He assured that next year, KNAB is ready to become a contact point for whistleblowers. Straume emphasized that transferring this function from the State Chancellery to KNAB is a clear signal to wrongdoers: violations will not be tolerated and will not go unnoticed. "This step confirms our commitment to creating an environment where honesty and accountability are the norm, not the exception," he noted.

Whistleblowing mechanisms were introduced and regulated in Latvia more than six years ago, significantly improving the ability of society to safely report violations, illegal actions, or other misconduct in the workplace that may harm the interests of society.

The whistleblowing mechanism has several significant advantages — it helps prevent potential threats to society, provides protection for employees from possible adverse consequences, and promotes transparency and integrity in organizations.

Since May 1, 2019, the State Chancellery has been responsible for coordinating whistleblowing issues in Latvia. However, next year it is planned to transfer this function to KNAB. This change is expected to bring several significant benefits — for example, whistleblower reports will henceforth be considered by an institution with independent institutional status and broader powers in identifying unlawful actions.