Tbilisi. 01.11.06. Media News. Today Patrol Police detained seven members of the Non-Governmental Organization 'Council of Veterans' in front of the State Chancellery. It was the sixth day of the veterans' hunger strike.
Davit Gurielidze, member of the Organization stated to 'Media News' that they went on a hunger strike to support veterans of the World War II, War for Georgia's Territorial Integrity, Afghan War and also family members of those soldiers who died during the wars. Demonstrators demanded to re-grant social allowances to aforementioned veterans and victims families.
"Our principal demand was to grant monthly allowances to the family members of the dead soldiers. These families used to get 40-60 lari a month. However, since January, 2006 these aids were abolished. Our demand is to grant fifty lari to each member of similar families.
Besides that we demanded to increase annual funding of the veterans' hospital. Nowadays it is funded with 450 000GEL, which should be increased up to one million GEL. Another claim was to rehabilitee veterans through employing them, as well as to restore funding of Veterans' Employment Program, which has not been funded since 2006,"-stated Davit Gurielidze.
He also pointed out that detained members of the 'Council of Veterans' are in the Addiction Department of the Patrol Police. Members of the Organization do not know reason of the detention yet.