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Veteran of the World War II does not Receive Pension

November 23, 2006

ismael.png79 year-old Ismail Bregadze who participated in the World War II does not receive his pension of 45 lari. In addition to that he is deprived from all other benefits on gas and electricity since this summer when veterans were re-registered.

“I spent the best part of my life in the war.  I do not want to remember all that I underwent there”, tells the old man. Although, he considers our request and recalls one story: “We were hostages and Germans forced us into a fenced territory. They threw us only bread once a day. Ten days lasted in similar situation; we were standing in rain and spent days and nights there.”

Ismail Beridze lives in a wooden hut in the village of Akho in Kedi district.

“I am hurt because I was deprived of my pension in my old age after so much trouble I have endured. Otherwise I am happy. I ask the god to give good health to my wife and me.”

Aishe Kekelidze, wife of the veteran is insulted for her husband was deprived of pension. “I am sorry for him, that they do not care about his troubles. They say that he has not got some document. How could a hostage care for documents? Are such honorable people treated in this way?  My husband is not a beggar for governmental allowances but he should receive what he deserves? Can not the wounds be enough evidence to prove that he was in the war?” asked Beridze’s wife.

According to Veterans’ Department in the district, Ismail Beridze does not have necessary documents. “This man is really a veteran. He did was in the war and we know he was a hostage. But he does not have a document to prove it. I asked Zebur Ananidze, military commissary of the district, to get in touch with the Moscow archive to find out any kind documents on the man there. However, we have not received any reply,” said Mikheil Zakaradze, head of the Veterans’ Department in Kedi District.

According to Tengiz Dzneladze, director of the United State Fund of Social Insurance Batumi branch, they can not give out pensions, unless Council of Veterans granted the person a veteran category.

Ismail Beridze has only one way out - to appeal the court. However, he needs to find somebody who fought with him during World War II.

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

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