Cena za odvahu 2016

For the sixth year running, the Anticorruption Endowment (NFPK) has awarded Prizes for Courage to citizens prepared to report corrupt conduct regardless of the personal consequences they might incur. This year’s prizes go to Martina Uhrinová and Jiří Kotek. The NFPK distributed almost 300,000 crowns to the awardees.

Martina Uhrinová, ex-head of Section 69 – “Analysis and Reporting on irregularities” of the Czech Ministry of Finance, blew the whistle on unusual and suspect activities of officials involved in the Stork Nest affair. In an attempt to sort things out in a standard way, she collected her findings and information about the case in a letter to Jan Kněžínek, who is in charge of investigating the conduct of members of the government. She attempted to actively discuss the case with Andrej Babiš and other employees of the Ministry of Finance, but her endeavour to bring those responsible to task was halted. She has been suspended and replaced by an official, who had collected information about the possible investigation of the affair by the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, in the post of director of the aforementioned Section 69.

Jiří Kotek has courageously exposed corrupt practices and clientelism in Karlovy Vary for 25 years. His uncompromising, steadfast approach has earned him about 20 criminal complaints, implicating him in miscellaneous criminal activities. The lawsuits he inspired have helped Karlovy Vary to reclaim at least 110 million crowns. He brought to light a recording from the infamous “Karlovy Vary Draw”, showing an authorized agent desperately fumbling in two instances over more than 30 seconds to produce a slip of paper with the names of contenders for a billion-crown public procurement contract on a multipurpose arena.

“It is extremely important for the human society to have people, who are not afraid to expose bad behaviour regardless of their personal gains and possible consequences. These courageous people deserve admiration. Of course we would be happy to see a quality legislation and well-working state apparatus ensure the course of justice. But awardee Uhrinová’s story goes to show that even if one proceeds in accordance with the law, his or her success is not ensured in advance. But it is a pleasure to know that, as shown by the example of Jakub Čech, the young generation is not idle and actively participates in public affairs. I am convinced that we are in a phase characterized by deep social transformations and may look forward to living in a radically fairer society, one day soon,” NFPK founder Karel Janeček says about the Prize for Courage awards ceremony.

The Anticorruption Endowment is a fully independent initiative by people radically unprepared to accept a high level of corruption in state administration. One of our goals is to help expose corruption in state administration and support projects exposing corruption.

The Anticorruption Endowment (NFPK) has regularly awarded individuals and groups with Prizes for Courage since its inception in 2011. Details about the awardees are available on http://www.nfpk.cz/en/whistleblowers.

Contact: Linda Majerová, Director of NFPK, Phone: 734 315 353, e-mail: linda.majerova@nfpk.cz