Whistleblowing

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is the possibility to promote legitimate, honest, open and transparent activities of organisations in the public and private sectors by using their right to freedom of expression. The Whistleblowing Law helps inhabitants of Latvia to prevent violations before harm is caused to the public interest, at the same time protecting whistleblowers from adverse consequences.

What is a whistleblower?

Whistleblower may be any employee of JSC “Augstsprieguma tīkls” (AST) or a person, who establishes legal employment relations with AST and provides information about a possible violation, which could harm public interests, if the person considers this information true. The purpose of whistleblowing is to prevent cases of fraud or bad faith or violations of regulatory enactments in AST.

Consultation on whistleblowing

AST has approved the “Whistleblowing Procedure” in accordance with the law, pursuant to which in the case of any questions or doubts before whistleblowing a consultation may be received at AST (also anonymously), which is provided by the contact person of AST on whistleblowing issues - Head of the Legal Security Department, by writing to the e-mail [email protected] or via phone +371 67725355. The information received by the contact person during the consultation is confidential.

+ Report contents

An anonymous submission shall not be considered a report. After receipt of the whistleblowing report, the data of the submitter is pseudonymised and is not available to the reviewers of the submission; the content of the application is restricted information.

The whistleblower’s report contains information being at the disposal of the submitter in relation to the infringement and should include the following information (it is recommended to use the form developed by AST):

  • name, surname, address of the submitter of the report (it is preferred to also indicate other contacts, for example, phone number for operative communication with the submitter of the Report);
  • an indication that this is a whistleblower’s report;
  • an indication of whether the information regarding the violation has been obtained during the performance of work duties or during the establishment of legal relations related to the performance of work duties;
  • a description of the violation, mentioning specific facts;
  • information regarding natural or legal persons, regarding whom there are grounds to believe that they are involved in the commitment of this violation;
  • copies of documents confirming the circumstances referred to in the report, if available;
  • an indication of whether the breach has already been reported in advance (attach the response received, if any);
  • any other information being at the disposal of the whistleblower in relation to the infringement.
+ Submission of the whistleblower’s report

The whistleblower’s report may be submitted:

  • signed with a secure electronic signature, sending to the e-mail [email protected];
  • by sending it to the registered office of AST via mail or courier, or submitting it in presence at the customer service centre of AST;
  • by placing in the mailbox “For submission to JSC” Augstsprieguma tīkls””, which is located in the main building of AST on the first floor near the customer service centre.

When submitting a written report, the whistleblower shall ensure that the message is placed in a sealed envelope, indicating on it that it is a report (for example, a note is made on the envelope “Whistleblowing report”). When submitting the report electronically, the whistleblower shall prepare the e-mail in a way that the recipient can clearly conclude that the e-mail is enclosed with a report.

Consultations: [email protected] or by phone +371 67725355 (information disclosed during consultations is confidential)

Documents: Whistleblowing Procedure, Whistleblowing Report form

Additional information on the nature of the whistleblowing, reporting mechanisms, as well as lists of the competent authorities are available on the site www.trauksmescelejs.lv