Draft law on veterans approved in Belarus - who will be covered by the novelties?

Improvement of social protection measures and provision of additional benefits for veterans and those who suffered from the consequences of the war. On October 22, senators at the session of the Council of the Republic approved the bill on veterans' issues.

Among the key innovations is the establishment of the status of participants of the Great Patriotic War and the provision of appropriate guarantees to veterans, who were awarded orders and medals of the USSR for impeccable military service on the home front.

In addition, it is envisaged to increase the supplement to pensions for certain categories of participants of the Great Patriotic War. For example, former prisoners of fascism will be provided with free medicines and technical means of social rehabilitation, free health-resort treatment and recuperation, as well as free manufacture and repair of dentures.

In addition, benefits for veterans of combat operations in the territory of other states are being expanded. Thus, it is proposed to reduce the retirement age by 5 years for persons who received the status of a disabled person in peacetime. Warriors-internationalists are also provided with additional measures of support in the field of health care.

Dmitry Baskov, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus:

"Social support for veterans and persons who suffered in the aftermath of wars is one of the most important elements of the social policy of our state. Therefore, it is very important to send assistance to the needy citizens in time. We are strengthening the material component for the veterans of the Great Patriotic War, former prisoners of fascism and family members of deceased servicemen. I must say that all the proposals of various veterans' organizations and civilians were reflected in this bill".

Also, the workers who were deployed to Afghanistan from December 1979 to December 1989 will receive a pension supplement equal to 100% of the minimum retirement pension. In total, the implementation of the draft law will cover about 30 thousand citizens.