Protesters against corruption in Abkhazia refuse to leave square at parliament

The bill on adding the notion of "illegal enrichment" to the Criminal Code of Abkhazia will be considered at the next session of the parliament, Astamur Logua, an MP has announced. Astamur Kakaliya, the initiator of the amendments, has stated that the action will continue until the day of the session.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that initiators of amending the Criminal Code of Abkhazia by adding the notion of "illegal enrichment" thereto called on citizens to gather outside the parliament and demand to ratify Article 20 of the UN Convention against Corruption. According to activists, it is necessary to introduce criminal liability for civil servants for illegal enrichment and to force officials' family members to declare their incomes.

Astamur Logua, an MP, came out to the rally and promised that the issue of amending the Criminal Code would be considered at the next session of the parliament.

David Dasaniya, the head of the international project "The Caucasus is Our Common Home", treats it outrageous that people have to demand from their MPs to ratify the article of the UN Convention against Corruption. This initiative should have come from the MPs themselves, he said.

According to Mr Dasaniya, "it's necessary to put Abkhazia in order within a maximum of 90 days." "Corruption has overwhelmed the country and leaves people without hope for bright future," he has stated.