18:42, 10 March 2020

Veterans of Georgian-Abkhaz war support Sukhumi hunger-strikers

Sukhumi. Photo by Vladimir K https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Сухум

At a meeting in Sukhumi in support of the hunger-strikers, who demand to adopt laws against corruption, veterans of the Georgian-Abkhaz war decided to convoke a nationwide meeting, if the local MPs fail to adopt the amendments to the anti-corruption law. Over 7000 signatures have been collected to the demand to ratify the article against illicit enrichment, included in the UN Convention against Corruption, the members of the initiative group have stated.

On February 6, the Parliament of Abkhazia adopted a law obliging state officials to declare their incomes, expenses and property. The law will enter into force only at the end of 2020, while protesters insist that it should take effect before the presidential election.

"The eighth day of hunger strike is on for the adoption of Article 20 of the UN Convention against Corruption. The Parliament remains calm ... If in the coming days the MPs fail to adopt the amendments, we, war veterans, will call on the people of Abkhazia to a nationwide meeting," the "Sputnik.Abkhazia" quotes the participants of the meetings.

There is no time to lose, as the hunger-strikers' health condition is getting worse, Vianor Ashba, the commander of the "Gorets" (Highlander) battalion, has stated.

The number of the participants of the endless hunger strike in Sukhumi has reached six.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 10, 2020 at 08:30 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.