Georgian PM congratulates WWII veterans on victory anniversary, pays tribute to victims

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday congratulated Georgian veterans of World War II on the 79th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

The PM, Shalva Papuashvili, the Parliament Speaker, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and other officials visited the Veterans’ Culture and Recreation Park in the capital city of Tbilisi earlier today to also pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the War.

The Prime Minister decorated the bust of Meliton Kantaria - a Soviet Georgian soldier who was a part of the group of servicemembers who hoisted the Soviet flag over the Reichstag on April 30, 1945, together with fellow servicemembers Mikhail Yegorov and Aleksey Berest - with flowers.

The Government Administration said veterans of the War would receive a one-time social assistance of ₾2,000 ($747.73), while family members of those who lost their lives in the war would receive ₾1,000 ($373.86).

Up to 700,000 Georgians served as part of the Soviet armed forces in WWII, according to the numbers released by the State Service of Veterans Affairs of Georgia, with 224,000 receiving various awards for their service and 164 granted the highest honour of receiving the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.