Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, together with his deputies, Miron Chigogidze, Jandri Ubiria, adviser, Vladimir Imnadze and representatives of the Service, attended the civil funeral in the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral. The funeral was officiated to honor the memory of those who died during the hostilities in Abkhazia in the 1990s.

With the joint efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross and The State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, the cadaver of 20 identified persons, including 14 fighters and 6 civilians, who died during the hostilities in Abkhazia in the 1990s, were transferred from the occupied territory of Abkhazia.

On November 16, 5 fighters will be buried with military honors at the Dighomi Brothers Cemetery at 15:00 pm. According to the decision of their families, 15 people will be buried in ancestral cemeteries.

In 2010, a total of 601 cadavers were found while 263 have already been transferred to the families with the involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the aftermath of the creation of two coordination mechanisms, one of which functions in connection with the armed conflict in Abkhazia in 1992-1993, and the other in connection with the hostilities in the Tskhinvali region between 1990s and 2008. Presently, 2,029 military and civilian persons are still considered missing. Humanitarian coordination mechanism continues to work in a non-stop mode to locate, identify and return them to their families.

Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, together with the  employees of the Service and the veterans of war and defense forces offered condolences and honored his memory to the family of Tamaz Ginturi, who was killed by the Russian occupation forces.

58-year-old Tamaz Ginturi was a resident of the Village of Kirbali, Gori Municipality. He was a participant of the military operations carried out for the territorial integrity of Georgia. Tamaz Ginturi will be buried with military honors in his native village on November 11. The State Service of Veterans Affairs, the veterans of war and defense forces, once again express their deep sorrow for Tamaz Ginturi who was killed by the Russian occupation regime, and offer their condolences to his family, relatives, and all of Georgia.

As a reminder, a representative of the occupation forces killed Tamaz Ginturi with a firearm on November 6, 2023 when they tried to arrest him illegally. His fellow villager Levan Dotiashvili, who accompanied him, was illegally arrested by the Russian occupation forces and taken to the occupied territory. The investigation started under Articles 109 and 143 of the Criminal Code of Georgia in connection with the murder of a citizen of Georgia and the kidnapping of one person which deals with the intentional murder and illegal deprivation of liberty.

On October 31, 2023, Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, held a work session with Tuba Ozutok, Chief of Tbilisi Branch Office of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

According to the guest, Turkish side is happy with the results of the successful joint projects that the Agency has implemented within the framework of the cooperation with the Service. Umit Naci Yorulmaz, Vice President of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, who visited the Service together with the delegation in the month of September, highly praised the projects which had been jointly implemented by the Agency and the Service. The successful implementation of the projects motivated the headquarters in Ankara to expand and deepen cooperation with the State Service of Veterans Affairs. One of the priorities of TIKA’s future activities encompass the support of the State Service of Veterans Affairs and veterans living in Georgia.

The talks touched upon the mobile clinic project which is especially important for providing timely and quality healthcare services to veterans living in mountainous regions as well as the local population. Tuba Ozutok expressed readiness to support this project and noted that the details will be discussed with TIKA management in Ankara. It was also pointed out that the Service will be offered the most personalized option for Georgian veterans. Tuba Ozutok promised Koba Kobaladze that Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency will implement the mobile clinic project in 2024.

Koba Kobaladze once again thanked Tuba Uzothok and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency for their fruitful cooperation and support for Georgian veterans. He especially emphasized the support offered by the Agency to the members of Guria Veteran Farmers Association in terms of ensuing provision of hives and inventory necessary for the development of beekeeping for the veteran farmers. Within the framework of the project, the veterans involved in the field of beekeeping were given an opportunity to significantly improve the production of products. The director of the Service expressed hope that the future projects will be equitably successful.

The meeting was also attended by Nikoloz Kvezerelli, first deputy director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

As a reminder, the relationship between the State Service of Veteran Affairs and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was begun in 2017. “TIKA” is operating under the government of Turkey, which has been implementing joint projects for 29 years in the fields of healthcare, infrastructure, tourism and agriculture across almost all regions of our country.

On October 21, 2023, doctors of Acad. G. Chapidze Emergency Cardiology Center held the 146th charity-medical action for veterans of war and defense forces and their family members living in Sighnaghi Municipality. The event was organized by the State Service of Veterans Affairs as a part of the memorandum of cooperation. The action encompassed free cardiological examinations (consultation by a doctor-cardiologist, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, laboratory studies).

59 beneficiaries of the Service enjoyed the services of the charity medical event for free. 22 were veterans, and 37 were family members of veterans. Overall, 97 visits were paid.

Valerian Dzebisashvili, head of the Social Issues and Accounting and Analytical Department of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Vazha Dalakishvili, head of Kakheti division of the Regional Management Department of the Service, Tamaz Kalatozishvili, the deputy mayor of Sighnaghi Municipality, Gocha Vardiashvili and the head of Social Service of the City Hall, Lia Bakashvili.

The first memorandum was signed in 2017 between the State Service of Veterans Affairs and Acad. G. Chapidze Emergency Cardiology Center. After five years of fruitful cooperation, the memorandum was extended for another 5 years on April 16, 2022.

Within the framework of the memorandum, charity medical events for veterans and their family members are held permanently throughout Georgia. Today, the doctors of Acad. G. Chapidze Emergency Cardiology Center organized 146 charitable medical actions. Free medical services were provided to 12,940 beneficiaries.

Within the framework of the memorandum, charity medical events will be held throughout the country for the veterans and their family members, regarding which the veterans will be notified in advance.

The schoolchildren living in the 17th micro district of Rustavi wrote a letter to the soldiers fighting for the territorial integrity of Georgia in Abkhazia30 years ago. The children sent small gifts bought with the collected money to the fighters together with the letter. The letter reached the addressee and was kept with them for years.

“Hello dear friends,

We are sure that Georgia will win and you will return soon. We believe you will definitely come back. We want ice cream to cost 20 kopecks again. We do not want war and Georgians killing Georgians. We will not deceive you. We wanted to hold a concert and use the money to buy something for you, but we heard that food and other things will be sent to you tomorrow, so we immediately collected money and are sending you cigarettes.

Tata Kotrikadze (9 years old) _ 100 kup.

Lia Buachidze (8 years old) _ 400 kup.

Elene Zurabishvili (8 years old) _ 1000 kup.

Nino Gabeshia (8 years old) _ 300 kup.

Nino Mestiashvili (9 years old – 1000 kup.

Ana Gagnidze (5 years old) _200 kup.

Roin Rekhviashvili (4 years old) _ 100 kup.

Lasha Machitidze (8 years old) _ 100 kup

Vasiko Ghlonti (4 years old) _ 100 kup.

Badri Tigishvili (12 years old) _ 250 kup.

Gia Mchedlishvili (6 years old) _ 200 kup.

Giorgi Papunashvili (6 years old) _ 100 kup.

Levan Amiridze, the head of the Department of Regional Management of the State Service of Veterans Affairs and the representatives of the Kvemo Kartli Division searched for the authors of this letter and invited them to the event dedicated to Veteran’s Day today.

The meeting with veterans was very emotional for them. Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Major General Koba Kobaladze, thanked the honorable guests for their sincere love and support for the fighters and presented souvenirs on behalf of the Service.

Within the framework of the events dedicated to the Veteran’s Day, an art exhibition of the paintings by the children and grandchildren of veterans was held at the festive reception.

The Prime Minister met the authors of the paintings and wished them success. Artists Anna and Mariam Zhgenti, the children of Zurab Zhgenti, a veteran of Abkhazia and the 2008 August War, gave their painting as a gift to the head of the government.

The students of Faculty of Journalism from different Georgian higher educational institutions including I.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Gori State University and A. Tsereteli State Unicersity, Kutaisi State University, were invited at the event to participate in the project carried out by the State Service of Veterans Affairs – “Thank you for your Dedication”. Within the framework of the project, the students prepared video-stories about the veterans participating in combat operations for the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, thanked the child artists, the students participating in the project – “Thank you for your dedication” and their supervisors at the end of the event, and gave them certificates and memorable souvenirs.

An event dedicated to Veterans Day was held at the State Service of Veterans Affairs. Information is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

According to their information, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Director of the State Service of Veterans’ Affairs, Major General Koba Kobaladze, addressed the veterans. Co-chair of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, read the Patriarch’s congratulations to the veterans.

“Veterans Day is celebrated on October 17!The event dedicated to Veterans Day was held in the State Service of Veterans Affairs, which was attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili, Co-Chair of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, together with clergy, members of the government and parliament, ambassadors accredited to Georgia, General of the Armed Forces of Georgia Representatives of the headquarters, diplomatic corps, partner organizations of the Service, veterans of the war and defense forces and amputee football players.

Ana and Mariam Zhgenti, the children of Zurab Zhgenti, a veteran of Abkhazia and the 2008 August War, presented their painting to the Prime Minister.

Later, Koba Kobaladze, together with his colleagues and veterans, laid a wreath at the memorial of the heroes who died in the battles for the territorial integrity of Georgia and once again honored the memory of the fighters killed in the hostilities.

Veterans Day was founded in 2014 in Georgia. Veterans Day has been celebrated for the ninth time. On October 17, 1995, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law “On Veterans of War and Military Forces”, which subsequently became the basis for the foundation of Veterans Day. Presently, up to 70,000 persons with the status of veteran are registered in the unified database of the State Service of Veterans Affairs including the participants of the Second World War, the 1992-93 military operations in Abkhazia and Samachablo, the participants of the 2008 August War and military operations on the territory of other countries (Afghanistan, Hungary).

Today, the most revered is 105-year-old Aleksandre Biskivadze, a resident of Zestafoni, and a veteran of the Second World War is among the veterans registered in the unified data base of the Service. Different types of events are held throughout the country in connection with the Veterans Day in which the state and private sector are actively involved,” the information says.