The Abkhazian Parliament has passed long-fought-over anti-corruption legislation following a campaign by activists that culminated in 10 days of hunger strikes.

Twenty-four of parliament’s 35 MPs voted in favour of the measures on 12 March, just 10 days before early presidential elections, with none voting against.

Before, on February 6, parliament passed a law entitled “On the declaration of income, expenses, property, and property obligations by public servants and deputies.” However, activists called it “a work of fiction” and demanded revisions.

The amendments to the Law on Financial Declaration of Public Officials would oblige all public officials to declare the income and property of their relatives, including children, parents, and siblings.

According to changes a month earlier, this only included spouses and children below the age of 18.

Financial declarations will be published on the website of the Ministry for Taxes and Fees, MPs and presidential candidates will also be required to submit financial reports to the Central Election Commission.

The new law would include not only real estate but also assets in banks and the value of precious stones.

The amended law would mean civil servants would lose their jobs and be banned from employment in the public sector if they fail to declare all the required information or provided false information.

The law was passed a day after five protesters on Freedom Square, in the capital Sukhumi, ‘temporarily’ suspended their hunger strike, after several MPs visited them and promised to introduce the changes.

The hunger strike was started by three activists on 2 March.  The group, calling themselves the Initiative Group for the Ratification of Article 20, were demanding that parliament bring Abkhazian legislation in line with Article 20 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, which criminalises ‘illegal enrichment’ by public officials.