SOLDIERS OF VICTORY

Today 1450 veterans of the Great Patriotic War live in Armenia, the youngest of them is 88 years old. Three of them will take part in the Victory Parade in Moscow on the 9th of May and 10 of them – in Novorossiysk. For the last 2 years the number of GPW veterans, living in Armenia, halved.

Today in Armenia there are 48 veterans’ organizations, by them there are charity canteens in Dilijan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Martouni. In all cities there are Leisure homes for veterans, as well as Veterans Halls of Fame.

During our talk with Chairman of the RA Veterans Union Council Colonel Simon Yesayan, he noted with grief that the main problem of veterans is their age and social-living disappointing situation.

According to Colonel Yesayan, though the ministries of labour and social welfare, health provide veterans trips to rest homes (in 2013 in Byureghavan 50 veterans vacationed, this year they would provide to 100 of them), however, paradoxically, medical service is not provided there.
And their discontent is quite appropriate. Let’s remember, what contribution this generation has made in the Patriotic War and the Great Victory. From small Armenia 600 000 participated in the war.

Nevertheless, defending the honor and dignity of veterans, Council Chairman mentioned that the veterans more often not appeal to him for financial assistance but for the delay of medals and orders.

BAGRAT MOVSESYAN