The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection condemned the fact that the Nis Correctional Facility which employs  Valentina Krstic, who received whistleblower status from the Anti-Corruption Agency, initiated disciplinary proceedings against her and suspended her from work despite being informed about her status.

By suspending the employee from work, the employee's rights and the relevant provisions of the Law on Anti-Corrupton Agency and the Rulebook on the Protection of Whistleblowers are violated, undermining the authority and the role of the Anti-Corruption Agency. Most importantly, all others who would want to report cases of corruption in their surroundings are demotivated.

In relation to the aforementioned, the Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic also stated the following:

„This move is difficult to understand, especially at the time when the state is trying to intensify its fight against corruption. This fight entails, among other things, the protection of whistleblowers and sanctioning of those who seek revenge.

Even if there were reasons to initiate disciplinary proceedings, the suspension from work with a salary reduction of 50% of someone who reported a case of corruption in her surroundings and received whistleblower status from a state institution resembles revengeful behavior.

It is a coincidence that the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection is currently wrapping up the „Whistleblower Protection" project, the main outcome of which will be the Draft Law on Whistleblower Protection. In accordance with the agreement with the Minister of Justice and Public Administration, this Draft Law will be submitted to the line ministry that will then continue with the activities aimed at ensuring it is formally proposed and turned into a law. This would lead to a better quality of protection of individuals  reporting illegal and unethical activities.

However, regardless of when the Law on Whistleblower Protection will be passed, it is of immense importance for the fight against corruption to adhere to the existing though modest mechanisms of protection and to reduce the possibility of revengeful behavior that is frequently present to the minimum."