Within the framework of the working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, General Major Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, together with the representatives of the Service and members of Georgian delegation, visited the National Military Museum of the Netherlands in Soestenberg.

An introductory meeting was held between the parties. Following the meeting, the staff of the museum showed the Georgian visitors the permanent and temporary exposition. They talked about the history of the creation and establishment of the museum and the importance of its existence. The National Military Museum was founded in 2014 in Soestenberg and depicts the history of the Dutch Armed Forces. Special attention is paid to the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Air Forces. The museum is located at the former Air Base in Soestenberg and maintains the largest military collection in the Netherlands with more than 300,000 artefacts.

“The state expresses its political will to establish a military museum in Georgia as well. The process of its establishment has already begun. Your vision is valuable for us, and it is important to share your experience in order to complete the process successfully,” Koba Kobaladze stated.

The management of the museum promised the members of Georgian delegation to assist in the creation of a military museum in Georgia and noted that they plan to hold an international photo exhibition on the military theme next year, in which Georgia will be invited as one of the participants.

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.

Within 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 the Georgian delegation and the hosts – management of the Netherlands Veterans Institute, visited the Assistance Dogs Training Center in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.

They got acquainted with the principles, objectives and goals of the Center. The management of the Center meticulously talked about the role and importance of four-legged helpers for disabled people. The dogs trained at the Center are great assistants to people with disabilities, including disabled veterans, especially the blind ones. The management of the Center also conducted simulation training of assistant dogs for the Georgian guests.

Later, Georgian delegation visited Utrecht Central Military Hospital and National Disaster Center of the Netherlands. The head of the hospital, Colonel Rick Bergman, gave the guests a tour of the hospital building, talked about the structural management of the hospital and the peculiarities of their activities. He specifically emphasized the importance of community support for veterans to overcome the challenges posed by the post-war syndrome and the programs developed to overcome these challenges. The members of the Georgian delegation met with the Dutch military doctors, shared their experiences and discussed the prospects of future cooperation.

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.

Within the framework of a 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 hosts, heads of the Netherlands Veterans Institute, visited the rehabilitation center for military personnel in the city of Aardenburg.

Information about this is spread by the State Service of Veterans Affairs.

Reportedly, Colonel Leon Jans, head of the Center, introduced the structure of the Center’s activities to the guests and toured the prosthetic factories.

“Koba Kobaladze and representatives of the rehabilitation center for military personnel named after Maro Makhashvili and the Dutch side shared their experience with each other. Plans for future cooperation were outlined.

Later on, Georgian delegation, together with the hosts and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Davit Solomonia, were at the military cemetery in the city of Lausden. The graves of compatriots who died in the fight against fascism were decorated with wreaths and flowers and their memory was honored.

865 soldiers are buried at Lawsden Military Cemetery. There are graves of 15 Georgian soldiers among them in one row. These 15 Georgians were arrested by the Nazis while trying to communicate with and hand over ammunition (88 hand grenades) to the Dutch partisans and were shot the same night in Fort Beverwijk. Lawsden Military Cemetery in the Netherlands is well looked after by residents. Every year on May 4, the day of liberation of the country, the cemetery is decorated with flowers.

It should be noted that the grave N2104, which belongs to our compatriot, Konstantine Skhirtladze, was taken under the patronage of the commander of the reserve of the Netherlands Navy, a military veteran, Cecilia Joanna van Pesky. He contacted the descendants of the soldier in the village of Zodi, Chiatura and visited them during his visit to Georgia.

The Dutch hosts also invited the Georgian delegation to the military veterans boarding house and the nearby museum in the city of Bronbeck. The director of the boarding house, Colonel Karel Van Dreumel, gave the guests a tour of the boarding house, talked about the programs that are implemented for the psychological rehabilitation of veterans. The Georgian and Dutch sides talked about the prospects of cooperation. Koba Kobaladze and the members of the Georgian delegation met and talked with the Dutch veterans. For the elderly Dutch veterans, some of whom were over 100 years old, enjoyed meeting the Georgian veterans. Bronbeek boarding house is a historical building erected in the 19th century and until 1845, it was the royal palace of the Netherlands.

As a reminder, Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, and the representatives of the Service are paying a 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 the Maro Makhashvili Military Servicemen’s Rehabilitation Center and the Defense and Security Civil Council.

“The visit of Koba Kobaladze and Georgian delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues” – the report said.

The 4th republic judo competition dedicated to the memory of Ilia Babutsidze was held at the student-youth center “Gantiadi”, who died in the war between Russia and Georgian in 2008 for the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Representatives of judo clubs of Tbilisi and Georgian regions took part in the mentioned tournament. Boys born between 2009-2010 and girls born between 2009-2010-2011 as well as 250 teenagers took part in the competition.

The winners of the tournament were awarded diplomas, medals and cups established by the State Service of Veterans Affairs. Koba Diasamidze, representative of Samgori District of the regional management department of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, awarded the prize-winning sportsmen. The event was attended by the honorable guests and the parents of the hero of the Russia-Georgia war 2008, Ilia Babutsidze.

Student-youth center “Gantiyadi” has been operating since 2016. It serves to promote healthy lifestyle in young generations. To achieve this goal, the center permanently holds city and district tournaments and various events.

Ilia Babutsidze was originally from Achabeti. He was born on March 25, 1982 in Tskhinvali. After finishing the ninth grade, he continued his studies in the cadet corps, then in Ukraine. He successfully completed Khmelnitsky Border Academy and defended the borders of Georgia in Mta-Tusheti and Lagodekhi at different times. He was the head of communications (J6) of the 41st battalion in the IV brigade in 2008. He was killed in Tskhinvali during hostilities on August 9, 2008. Ilia was tasked to stay in the back, however, when he learned about the Georgian military company surrounded by the enemy in Tskhinvali Institute, who were asking for help, he left his post and went to help them with a group of ten people. He saved his comrades, but he himself was killed by a sniper’s bullet. Senior Lieutenant, Ilia Babutsidze, was awarded the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasli, 1st degree aswell as the order for “Chivalric Courage.

Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, and members of the Defense and Security Committee of the Parliament of Georgia are visiting the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the official invitation of the Veterans Institute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

According to the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Koba Kobaladze signed a memorandum of cooperation with “Georgian Cultural Center in the Kingdom of the Netherlands” at the Embassy of Georgia in Hague within the framework of his working visit.

The purpose of the memorandum is to deepen the cooperation between “Georgian Culture Center in the Kingdom of the Netherlands” and the State Service of Veterans Affairs and coordinately implement joint cultural and charity projects.

The parties agreed that in order to achieve the goals of the memorandum, the State Service of Veterans Affairs will become a partner of the “Georgian Cultural Center in the Kingdom of the Netherlands”, which will allow them to cooperate in terms of planning and implementing international, diasporic, cultural and educational projects in Georgia and beyond, and ensuring participation of veterans within projects.

The memorandum was signed by the Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Major General Koba Kobaladze and the President of the “Georgian Culture Center in the Kingdom of the Netherlands” Tika Svanidze-Venko.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Davit Solomonia, members of the Defense and Security Committee of the Parliament of Georgia – Gia Benashvili and Aleksandre Tabatadze, Deputy Director of the State Service for Veterans Affairs, Jandri Ubiria, Head of the Administrative Department, Natia Janashvili and Head of the Legal Assurance Department, Mikheil Khurtsidze.

“Georgian Culture Center in the Kingdom of Netherlands” (Georgische Cultuur In Nederland) was founded in 2015. The goals of the organization are to promote Georgia and Georgian culture, preserve national and cultural identity, deepen cultural, scientific and vis-à-vis ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Georgia. A Georgian Sunday school is operating under the center” – it is mentioned in the news.

On June 24, 2023, Guruli Wine Festival was held in the village of Khidistavi, Chokhatauri Municipality, which was attended by the State Commissioner of Guria, Giorgi Urushadze and representatives of the local self-government along with the Deputy Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, Miron Chigogidze, the Advisor to the Director, Vladimir Imnadze, Head of the Project Planning and Management Group of the Service, Lela Kiknadze, Head of the Guria Division of the Regional Management Department, Gela Bakanidze, and veterans.

Within the framework of the festival, an exhibition and sale of handicrafts and culinary products was organized. Members of Guria Veteran Farmers Association along with local winemakers and entrepreneurs from different regions of the country, and clerics interested in the field of winemaking, presented their products at the festival. At the end of the event, the traditional ceremony of opening churi was demonstrated.

It should be noted that Guruli wine festival is being held for the second time in Chokhatauri municipality and aims to popularize the wine produced from Guruli endemic variety of grapes, and also to develop viticulture in the region. It is no coincidence that the festival was hosted by the village of Khidistavi. The old name of the village is Otskhana, and it is the place of origin of “Otskhanuri grapes”.

It is especially gratifying that veterans of the war and defense forces, who contribute to the development of winemaking and agriculture, took part in the festival this year.

As a reminder, “Guria War and Defense Forces Veteran Farmers Association” was established in 2022, on the initiative of the war and defense forces veterans living in Guria and with the support of the State Service of Veterans Affairs. It brings together nearly 150 war veterans and 2 cooperatives.

On June 17, 2021, Lions Eye Diabet Clinic – Georgia conducted free ophthalmological examinations as well as mini-surgical operations for veterans of war and defense forces and their family members living in the village of Nikozi, Gori Municipality. The event was organized by the State Service of Veteran Affairs as a part of a memorandum of cooperation. A group of 12 qualified doctors (ophthalmologists, endocrinologists) who were equipped with high-tech equipment participated in the charity medical campaign.

174 beneficiaries of the Service benefited from the charity medical campaign. 97 were veterans, and 77 were family members of veterans among them. 189 beneficiaries were given optical means (glasses) free of charge.

The Director of the State Service of Veteran Affairs, Major General Koba Kobaladze, Deputy Director, Jandri Ubiria, Head of the Regional Management Department, Levan Amiridze, Head of the Monitoring and Audit Department, Gia Edilashvili, Head of the Social Issues and Accounting-Analytical Department, Vazha Dalakishvili, head of the Shida Kartli Division of the Service, and Zviad Sabashvili got acquainted with the course of the action.

It should be noted that Lions Eye Diabet Clinic – Georgia offered quality services free of charge in 2023 to 544 beneficiaries of the State Service of Veteran Affairs within the framework of charity-medical campaigned launched across the country.

The memorandum of cooperation between the State Service of Veteran Affairs and Lions Eye Diabet Clinic-Georgia was signed in 2016 and is renewed annually. Free medical campaigns are held permanently throughout Georgia.

Within the framework of existing memoranda with various medical institutions, charity medical campaigns for veterans and their family members will be held throughout Georgia, regarding which veterans will be notified in advance.

Director of the State Service of Veteran Affairs met with Kazbegi Municipality Mayor Bakur Avsajanishvili and Chairman of City Council Davit Kirikashvili.

Koba Kobaladze introduced Murtaz Gabitashvili, the new head of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Division of Regional Management Department of the State Service of Veteran Affairs at the meeting.

Murtaz Gabitashvili is a veteran of the war of Abkhazia. He took an active participation in the military operations that took place in Abkhazia in 1992-1993. He has been awarded with the medal “For Cavalry Courage” and Order of Vakhtang Gorgasli III degree.

Koba Kobaladze discussed the details of improving the social and economic condition of veterans living in the region. He also talked about development of top priority programs, provision of health services to the beneficiaries of the Service as well as overcoming the challenges faced by veterans in this regard. He underlined the importance of deepening the coordination between the Service and representatives of local government.

The meeting was also attended by Nikoloz Kvezereli, first deputy director of the State Service of Veteran Affairs, Vladimir Imnadze, director’s advisor, and Levan Amiridze, head of the regional management department.