Davit son of Abel Zakaraia was buried with military honors at Dighomi Brothers Cemetery who died during the hostilities for the territorial integrity of Georgia, in Abkhazia.

Information is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

Reportedly, Deputy Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Jandri Ubiria, attended the ceremony together with the representatives of the Government of Abkhazia.

“Davit Zakaraia, son of Abel was born on January 7, 1968 in Sukhumi. He was enrolled in the third battalion of the 23rd brigade. During the hostilities in Abkhazia, he participated in nearly all decisive battles. He was killed on September 17, 1993, during the storming of Sukhumi. He was buried in Achadara, in the yard of his own house.

With the joint efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross and State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia, 13 identified persons were transferred from the occupied territory of Abkhazia, who died during the hostilities in Abkhazia in the 1990s, including 4 fighters – Givi Chelidze, David Zakaraia, Guram Khuntselia, Shakhivit Sichinava and 9 civilians – Shota Murusidze, Mose Margvelani, Anzor Todua, Genadi Todua, Vakhtang Chichua, Abel Pataraia, Davit Sharvadze, Jemal Iosava and Gulnara Abuladze. The cadaver of those identified, except for Davit Zakaraya, will be buried in different locations, in ancestral cemeteries, according to the decision of the families.

In 2010, a total of 601 cadaver were identified out of whom 243 were given to families with the involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross, after the creation of two coordination mechanisms, one of which operates concerning the hostilities in Abkhazia in 1992-1993, and the other concerning the hostilities in Tskhinvali region between 1990s and 2008. Presently, 2049 military and civilian persons are still considered to be missing, whose search, identification and handing over to their families continues in a non-stop mode within the humanitarian coordination mechanism,” the information said.

Nikoloz Kvezereli, first deputy director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Davit Razmadze, chairman of Gori Municipality Council, and Tamaz Shioshvili, deputy mayor of Gori, paid a visit to Village Nikozi, where they laid a wreath at the memorial of the warriors who died for the territorial integrity of Georgia during the armed conflict in the 1990s and in Russia-Georgia war 2008, and honored their memory.

Information is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

Reportedly, head of the regional management department of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Levan Amiridze, representatives of Shida Kartli adaivision, Zviad Sabashvili and Tengiz Devidze, veterans of the war and defense forces, were also present at the memorial.

“July 20 has been established to commemorate the soldiers who died during the hostilities in Samachablo in the 1990s, and in Russia-Georgia August War 2008, on the initiative of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, and will be celebrated every year from now on.

As a reminder, the memorial of the soldiers who died in the battle for the territorial integrity of Georgia was opened in 2019 at the initiative of the representatives of Shida Kartli Division of the Regional Management Department of the State Service of Veterans Affairs and with the support of the government.

A meeting of the members of the renewed commission which is charged to verify the participation and death in hostilities of those seeking veteran was held at the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

Information on the meeting is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, introduced the structure of the Service, administrative system, strategy, joint programs implemented by the Service and the state to overcome different challenges faced by veterans. He also talked about the areas of international cooperation and relations with strategic partners, as well as future plans and tasks of the Service.

Koba Kobaladze noted that the willingness of the state to pay well-deserved honor to the participants in the battles for the territorial integrity, freedom and independence of Georgia and their families significantly increased the number of veteran status seekers, and the soldiers without veteran status were motivated to be granted veteran status.

“In order to overcome the social, economic and healthcare challenges faced by veterans and their family members, with the joint efforts of the government, different institutions and the State Service of Veterans Affairs, the legislative acts developed in recent years, the measures taken, and the projects implemented motivated the members of different military units participating in the battles for the integrity of the country to be granted veteran status. All soldiers who honorably served their country and defended their homeland deserve the status of a veteran, and the effective work of the commission is therefore important. 30 years have passed since the commencement of the hostilities in the 90s, however, fortunately, we have decent commanders who are able to take the issue of veteran status with great responsibility. That’s why decent representatives from almost all military units that were involved in the hostilities were selected as members of the commission. You are the people, with whose efforts, I believe, many decent people will join the ranks of veterans”, said Koba Kobaladze.

At the meeting, they also talked about the periodicity of the meetings of the commission members and the future plans that will make the work of the commission more effective.

As a reminder, the renewed composition of the Commission verifying the fact of participation and death in the hostilities of those seeking veteran status was approved by the order of the Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Major General Koba Kobaladze, in accordance with Article 61 of the General Administrative Code of Georgia and the Resolution of the Government of Georgia N342 of July 21, 2016 and as per Article 5, Paragraph 2, (I) and (P) of the Statute of the State Service of Veterans Affairs of a legal entity.

On July 15, 2023, doctors of Chapidze Heart Disease Center held the 144th charity medical event for veterans of war and defense forces and their family members as a part of the memorandum of cooperation. The event was organized by the State Service of Veterans Affairs. The medical action included free cardiac examinations (consultation with a doctor-cardiologist, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, laboratory studies).

50 beneficiaries of the Service enjoyed free charity medical services. Nearly 170 medical visits were paid.

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

Within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation, charity medical events for veterans and their family members are held permanently throughout Georgia. Overall 144 charitable medical events were conducted by the doctors of Chapidze Heart Disease Center. Free medical services were provided to 12,826 beneficiaries.

The charity medical events will be held for veterans of war and defense forces and their family members throughout the country within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation, regarding which the veterans will be notified in advance.

On July 15, 2023, Lions Eye Diabet Clinic-Georgia conducted free ophthalmological examinations for veterans of war and defense forces and their family members living in the village of Dvani, Kareli municipality as a part of the Memorandum of Cooperation. The event was organized by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

A group of 12 qualified doctors (ophthalmologists, endocrinologists) with high-tech equipment participated in the charity healthcare event. The beneficiaries of the service were also given free optical means (160 glasses).

82 beneficiaries of the Service enjoyed free medical event, out of whom 41 were veterans and 41 were family members of veterans. More than 110 healthcare visits were paid.

Valerian Dzebisashvili, Head of Department of Social Issues and Accounting and Analytical Department of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Vazha Dalakishvili, Head of Department of Regional Management of the Service, Levan Amiridze, Head of Shida Kartli Division, Zviad Sabashvili, Head of the Service’s Monitoring and Audit Division, Gia Edilashvili visited the event on the spot.

It is noteworthy that Lions Eye Diabetic Clinic-Georgia has rendered quality free healthcare services to 723 beneficiaries of the State Service of Veterans Affairs within the framework of charity healthcare event which was held countrywide.

The memorandum of cooperation between the State Service of Veterans Affairs and Lions Eye Diabet Clinic-Georgia was signed in 2016 and is updated annually. Free healthcare events are organized permanently throughout Georgia.

Within the framework of existing memoranda with different medical institutions, charity healthcare events for veterans and their family members will be held throughout Georgia regrading which the veterans will be notified in advance.

Jandri Ubiria, Deputy Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Vladimer Imnadze, Director’s Advisor, together with the representatives of the Abkhazian Government, Service employees and veterans, laid a wreath at the Heroes Memorial today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Tamishi. They paid tribute to the soldiers who died in the battles for the territorial integrity of Georgia once again.

Later on, the soldiers of “Shawnabada” Bbattalion laid a wreath at the memorial on Mount Elia. The memorial is after named the heroes who fell on the battlefield during the battle of Tamishi. They once again commemorated one of the important battles of the Abkhazian war and paid tribute to the comrades who died during the repulse of the Russian landing.

The renovated memorial of the fighters who died for the unity of Georgia was opened on Mount Elia in 2016. On all four sides of the monument, the names of 110 fighters – “Shavnabadeli” and artillerymen are engraved and decorated with the map of Georgia. The area was the place of deployment of “Shavnabada” Battalion and the artillery unit at different times, where the memorial of the fighters who died for the territorial integrity of Georgia was erected for the first time. The damaged memorial was renovated by Tbilisi Isani District Administration with the support of the State Service of Veterans Affairs. “Shavnabadeli”, veterans of the Abkhazian war, together with the representatives of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, gather at the memorial every year on July 2 to immortalize the memory of their fallen comrades on the day of Russian landing in Tamishi.

The opposing side launched a naval landing with a Russian warship consisting of 600 people on July 2, 1993, at 05:00 a.m, near the town of Tamishi. The first blow was received by the Georgian units located in Tamishi, Labra and Zemo Kindghi at dawn. Abkhazian formations and North Caucasian confederates along with the landing became active. The enemy attacked a part of Georgian units from the north – via Tkvarcheli. The attack was so unexpected that almost all Georgian soldiers were killed. “Shavnabada”, “Avaza” and Dusheti battalions suffered the biggest losses. All Georgian combat units in the country at that time were involved in the battle; As a result of several days of selfless fighting, the Georgian side lost about 300 fighters. Russian-Abkhazian-North-Caucasian groups suffered heavier losses from Georgian units.

On July 10-11, Ochamchire-Sukhumi highway was completely opened as a result of the joint efforts of Georgian public formations. The Russian landing in Tamishi was aimed at taking Sukhumi, but the repulse of the landing delayed this plan for several months.

Battle of Tamishi – one of the most important episodes of the Abkhazia war, entered the history of Georgia as the greatest example of self-sacrifice, unity and heroism of Georgian soldiers.

Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Director’s Advisor, Vladimir Imnadze, representatives of the Service, veterans of the war and defense forces, expressed their sympathy to the families of Malkhaz Kvizhinadze and Johnny Odishvili, who died in the fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine, and paid tribute to their memory.

The report is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

According to their reports, the civil funeral of Malkhaz Kvizhinadze was held in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and of Johnny Odishvili in Elia Tezbiteli Church in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity.

“Former servicemen of the Georgian Defense Forces, senior sergeant Malkhaz Kvizhinadze and corporal Johnny Odishvili, died during the artillery bombardment near Bakhmut. Johnny Odishvili was taken out wounded from the battlefield, but the doctors could not save him.

Malkhaz Kvizhinadze will be buried in Zeda Meskheti village of Tskaltubo municipality with military honors on July 2, and Johnny Odishvili in village Tkviavi of Gori municipality on July 4.

“47 Georgian soldiers have been killed in the Russian Ukrainian War since February 24, 2022,” the report said.

The summer season of the project “Active life is my Aspiration” carried out by the Youth Media Union has been finalized at the adapted field camp in Borjomi which hosted about 200 disabled people living in different municipalities of Georgia – soldiers wounded in international peace missions and war veterans. The Campaign was supported by the State Service of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of Georgia. After the rafting and archery championships, the zipline activity and the paintball championship were held at the championship of Georgia.

The zipline activity proved to be very fun and impressive especially for those who landed on the steel roller for the first time. Many have overcome their fear of heights.

As referred to the paintball championship, this kind of sport is very popular among the participants of the project which it is on a great demand. Teams from different municipalities of Georgia, participating in the championship, fought hard for the victory. Nonetheless, Kutaisi team made it to take the first place in a tense battle. Thus, the transitional trophy will again be placed in Kutaisi for 1 year.

The winners of the championships were awarded transitional cups, diplomas and medals.

The general sponsor of the project is “Initiative Platform”, and the sponsors are “Socar” and “Kutaisi International University”.

The project promotes the implementation of Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006.

The summer season of the project “Active life is my Aspiration” carried out by the Youth Media Union has moved to the adapted field camp in Borjomi and hosted about 200 disabled people living in different municipalities of Georgia – soldiers wounded in international peace missions and war veterans. The Campaign was supported by the State Service of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of Georgia.

At the first stage, championship in rafting named after Goderdzi Zakaria, the hero of the war of Abkhazia, and tournament in archery were held, in which 6-person teams from 11 municipalities of the country and the State Service of Veterans Affairs participated at the championship of Georgia. The participants spared no effort and fought to the end for victory. They encouraged the members of the opposing team with shouts and declared that everyone is a winner in the tournaments held within the framework of the project.

The integrated championship in rafting named after Goderdzi Zakaria, the hero of the War of Abkhazia, turned out to be very exciting. The teams of different municipalities were competing with one another in the championship held in several stages. The team from Gori Municipality did not let anyone to take the first place, and the transitional cup was sent to Gori for one year. The archery championship was very adventurous too. All the teams fought hard for the victory, however, one of the teams from Kutaisi was lucky to win. They also won the title of champion, and the transitional trophy of the archery tournament will be housed in Kutaisi for one year.

The winners of the championships were awarded cash prizes, paid gifts, cups, diplomas and medals.

The general sponsor of the event is “Initiative Platform”, and the sponsors are “Socar” and ”Kutaisi International University”.

The project promotes the implementation of Article 30 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006.

Within the framework of the working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, together with the representatives of the Service, members of Georgian delegation and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Davit Solomonia, attended the conclusive symposium of the visit at the Veterans Institute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: ‘”Concepts to Care for Veterans and ways of their implementation”.

The Dutch hosts – Director of the Netherlands Veterans Institute, Brigadier General Paul Hofslot, Commander of the Netherlands Navy Reserve, military veteran Cecilia Joanna van Peske, institute researcher Hjelt Alhra and Psychiatrist, Military Mental Health Strategic Advisor, Reserve Colonel prof. Eric Vermeten showed their respect towards Koba Kobaladze, Georgian veterans and Georgian delegation and emphasized the special merits of Georgian veterans in the fight for the country’s freedom and territorial integrity.

Cecilia Joanna Van Pesky, in her report, recalled previous year’s visit of the director of the Netherlands Veterans Institute and the management of the State Service of Veterans Affairs in Georgia. He noted that the friendly and partnership relationship established between Georgian and Dutch agencies is an important step in overcoming the challenges faced by Georgian veterans. Shorena Lortkipanidze, co-founder and board member of the Civil Defense and Security Council, spoke about the plans and tasks of the organization, the geopolitical challenges facing Georgia in terms of defense and security and the importance of community consolidation and the use of veterans’ potential in overcoming these challenges.

General Paul Hofslot expressed his willingness to deepen the cooperation between the State Service of Veterans Affairs and the Netherlands Veterans Institute: “The door of the Netherlands Veterans Institute is always open to the State Service of Veterans Affairs and the veterans of Georgia. We reiterate our support to overcome the social and healthcare challenges facing the veterans of Georgia once again. To this end, our partnership and friendly relations will surely deepen. Reciprocal, bilateral visits with the participation of thematic groups will continue in order to make work on specific issues more productive”, Paul Hofslot noted in his speech.

Koba Kobaladze thanked the Dutch hosts for the warm reception and interesting meetings; noted that the visit of the Georgian delegation is important in terms of sharing experience and strengthening international partnership. He once again emphasized the importance of cooperation of Western friends in overcoming the challenges faced by veterans of Georgia. At the end of the symposium, a memorandum of mutual cooperation was signed between the Georgian and Dutch parties, which was signed by Paul Hofslot and Koba Kobaladze.

As a reminder, General Major Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, and the representatives of the Service are paying their working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the official invitation of the Netherlands Veterans Institute. The delegation also includes members of the Defense and Security Committee of the Parliament of Georgia – Gia Benashvili and Aleksandre Tabatadze, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, representatives of Maro Makhashvili Military Servicemen’s Rehabilitation Center and the Defense and Security Civil Council.

The visit of Koba Kobaladze and the Georgian delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues.