TBILISI, DFWatch–Families of dead military soldiers, including those who died during the war in Abkhazia in 90s and those who died as part of Georgian soldiers’ participation in the NATO-led ISAF force in Afghanistan, will receive USD 600 monthly from 2014.

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Thursday said in a video appeal that on the initiative of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, bereaved families will first receive USD 300 on the first level and USD 600 from 2015, while the compensation for families whose family member died during service in the ISAF mission will receive USD 60 000, instead of USD 9 000 as it used to be.

Implementation of the new initiative will start from 2014 and the government supports.

“A soldier protects the homeland by paying with his life and the homeland should protect their families,” he said.

More than 2 500 soldiers died in the 1992-93 war in Abkhazia, while 29 soldiers have died while sercing in ISAF.

In the beginning of 2013, President Mikheil Saakashvili also suggested increasing pensions for families who have lost someone in Afghanistan.