Anti-corruption Pressure Group: Investigation of Corrupt Cases (2003)

The purpose of the project was to further develop the unique anti-corruption experience accumulated by the Pressure Group, set up in 2001 as a mediator between the media and NGOs, on the one hand, and the competent state institutions, on the other.

Anti-corruption Pressure Group I Project achieved a new level of cooperation between NGOs, media and law enforcement authorities. However, cases alone (i.e. media facts), brought to the attention to the prosecution, had provoked preliminary investigation procedures, but did not seem enough to urge further legal activities on behalf of the judiciary. Thus this project goal was to fill this gap by improving the established scheme of anti-corruption activities, adding specific investigative efforts to the monitoring of corruption. This task was entrusted to a special Acting team, including the Project Coordinator, a legal expert and two media investigators. They supported the Group with expertise and carried out media and legal investigations advised by the Group.

The project also envisaged help for investigative journalists dealing with corruption, providing them with legal protection and counsel, as well as with financial and methodological support when working on concrete cases of corruption.

The project was expected to help establishing a model of effective following of cases: from the very point of the initial media signal on alleged corruption practices through long and complicated procedures of the judiciary practices.

The results of the Pressure Group activities were summed up in a final report.