TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili has presented a new initiative to double pensions for veterans and allocate permanent pensions for families of soldiers and policemen who have died in the line of duty.

The president’s administration has prepared a draft bill for parliament.

Manana Manjgaladze, spokesperson for president said at a briefing Friday that the Defense Ministry agrees with the initiative.

“It is very good that the body in question agrees with this initiative, which belongs to the president,” she said. “The president’s administration has prepared an appropriate draft, on the orders of the president, and in the next few days, the president will send it to the government, as well as the legislative body.”

The president also offers to hold consultations with the government about the bill.


Saakashvili celebrated New Year with Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan. He first spoke about the new initiative while addressing the soldiers there.

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said after Friday’s government session that a new commission to address veteran’s social protection will start work from Saturday.

Chair of the commission will be the health minister, he said.

“The government commission will prepare proposals for the government and the legislative base for how to provide defending the social rights of war veterans and their families, including financial allowances and defining the amount of pensions.”