Anti-corruption adviser leaves health ministry

A former police inspector who was in June made adviser to the health minister for anti-corruption affairs, has "left his job", said reports. A month ago, Ljubisa Milanovic accused top state officials via media that they were preventing anti-corruption activities. Anti-corruption adviser leaves health ministry On Wednesday, Milanovic said he had a meeting with Health Minister Zoran Stankovic during which "it has suggested that his appearance on the (state broadcaster) RTS was not looked upon favorably in the highest place". "I've solved all my cases, handed them over to another person, and after a very emotional conversation with the minister, which was a continuation of the one we had before the New Year, I simply left," Milanovic told B92, and added: "I did not wish to resign as a matter of principle, instead, the person who wanted me to - should explain it. The minister is in two minds about staying (in his job), and I asked him - because I don't want the burden of causing someone to leave - to finish his story." Stankovic declined to make any comment for B92, but in his statements to news agencies on Wednesday he said his adviser"has not yet been replaced", and that he did not wish to make public the details of their conversation. The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said that Milanovic did not file a request to terminate his employment, and that the minister did not relieve him of his duties, while the public would be "duly notified" about Milanovic's "further engagement". In a statement for the whistle-blower website pistaljaka.rs, Milanovic earlier today said that the minister told him he had received "suggestions to get rid of him": "I have confidence that Stankovic is an honest man, and I believe none of this was his idea. I realized that after everything that's happened, he is considering resigning, and I asked him not to do that because it is no small feat to have a non-corrupt man in the government. Still, I told him that as a matter of principle I do not wish to resign and meet half-way those who do not agree with the truth. Let them sack me. Also, it makes no sense for me to stay in my job any longer when my hands are tied, and when after waiting for a long time, there have been no processes for the people for whom there is sufficient evidence that they belong in jail. Therefore I cleared my desk and left the ministry." On December 13, Milanovic was a guest in a state television program, when he voiced strong criticism, accusing top prosecution and police brass, as well as the cabinet of Presindet Boris Tadic. Minister Stankovic reacted at the time by telling B92 that was "the first time he heard about some information" that was publicly presented by his advisor. Milanovic previously headed MUP's POSKOK anti-corruption unit. When he took over as Stankovic's adviser in June, Milanovic said that corruption in the health sector "had already crossed the red line", and announced investigations and measures to fight it. Ljubisa Milanovic is seen in a picture made of television footage B92 Tanjug pistaljka.rs

Anti-corruption adviser leaves health ministry

On Wednesday, Milanović said he had a meeting with Health Minister Zoran Stanković during which "it has suggested that his appearance on the (state broadcaster) RTS was not looked upon favorably in the highest place".

"I've solved all my cases, handed them over to another person, and after a very emotional conversation with the minister, which was a continuation of the one we had before the New Year, I simply left," Milanović told B92, and added:

"I did not wish to resign as a matter of principle, instead, the person who wanted me to - should explain it. The minister is in two minds about staying (in his job), and I asked him - because I don't want the burden of causing someone to leave - to finish his story."

Stanković declined to make any comment for B92, but in his statements to news agencies on Wednesday he said his adviser"has not yet been replaced", and that he did not wish to make public the details of their conversation.

The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said that Milanović did not file a request to terminate his employment, and that the minister did not relieve him of his duties, while the public would be "duly notified" about Milanović's "further engagement".

In a statement for the whistle-blower website pištaljaka.rs, Milanović earlier today said that the minister told him he had received "suggestions to get rid of him":

"I have confidence that Stanković is an honest man, and I believe none of this was his idea. I realized that after everything that's happened, he is considering resigning, and I asked him not to do that because it is no small feat to have a non-corrupt man in the government. Still, I told him that as a matter of principle I do not wish to resign and meet half-way those who do not agree with the truth. Let them sack me. Also, it makes no sense for me to stay in my job any longer when my hands are tied, and when after waiting for a long time, there have been no processes for the people for whom there is sufficient evidence that they belong in jail. Therefore I cleared my desk and left the ministry."

On December 13, Milanović was a guest in a state television program, when he voiced strong criticism, accusing top prosecution and police brass, as well as the cabinet of Presindet Boris Tadić. Minister Stanković reacted at the time by telling B92 that was "the first time he heard about some information" that was publicly presented by his advisor.

Milanović previously headed MUP's POSKOK anti-corruption unit. When he took over as Stanković's adviser in June, Milanović said that corruption in the health sector "had already crossed the red line", and announced investigations and measures to fight it.