May 23, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War will receive financial assistance for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus and the 70th anniversary of Victory. This is stipulated by the Plan for the preparation and conduct of events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, approved by Decree of the President of May 20, 2013 No. 230. The document was officially published today on the National Legal Internet Portal, reports a BELTA correspondent.
Thus, a draft decree "On rendering one-time financial assistance to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and certain categories of citizens affected by the consequences of the war, in connection with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders" is to be prepared by March 1, 2014. The second draft decree – on rendering one-time financial assistance in connection with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Victory – by March 1, 2015.
In addition, the presentation of commemorative gifts to veterans will be organised at the expense of local budgets, legal entities, including public associations (by July 3, 2014 and by May 9, 2015).
The Plan provides for the study of the socio-economic living conditions of Great Patriotic War veterans, family members of military personnel, partisans and underground fighters who died (passed away) during the war years, and certain categories of citizens affected by the consequences of the war. If necessary, the apartments and houses of lonely citizens of these categories will be repaired at the expense of local budgets. Within the framework of the campaigns "Your Victory - Our Freedom", "Kind Heart" - to Veterans!" Timur and youth volunteer detachments will provide patronage assistance in 2013-2015.
Comprehensive medical examinations and medical assistance to Great Patriotic War veterans in state healthcare organisations are planned.
Disabled persons and participants of the Great Patriotic War will be granted the right to free use of stationary telephone services on the territory of the republic at the expense of RUE "Beltelecom", as well as with the use of service telephone cards, from July 1-5, 2014 and May 7-11, 2015.
On July 2, 2014, the grand opening of the new building and exposition of the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War will take place.
Military memorial events include the repair and improvement of memorials and monuments to military glory, and gravestones at military burial sites; the holding of republican workdays, the proceeds from which are directed towards the repair and improvement of military burial sites of the Great Patriotic War; the manufacturing of gravestones and the inscription of the names of soldiers who died in defence of the Fatherland.
A Vigil of Remembrance will be held to intensify archival and research work aimed at establishing the names, fates, and burial places of those who died during the war. The opening of new memorial sites and the creation of memorial zones are planned. Search operations will continue with the aim of identifying and locating unrecorded burials of those who died in defence of the Fatherland and victims of the Great Patriotic War.
Proposals will be made regarding the establishment, manufacturing, and presentation to veterans of the Great Patriotic War, former inmates of Nazi concentration camps, prisons, ghettos, and former underage inmates of other places of detention created by the Nazis and their allies during World War II, and other categories of citizens, of the jubilee medal "70 Years of the Liberation of Belarus from German-Fascist Invaders". Furthermore, proposals are to be made regarding the manufacturing and presentation of unified jubilee awards established by a decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States: the honorary order "70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" and the jubilee medal "70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945".
As reported by BELTA, the decree approved the composition of the republican organizing committee for the celebration of these two significant commemorative dates, chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich. The organizing committee includes heads and representatives of republican and local state bodies, mass media, the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, the Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Aviation and Navy, the Belarusian Union of Officers, the Belarusian Union of Afghan War Veterans, and other organizations.
According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, as of April 1st of the current year, there are 25,312 veterans of the Great Patriotic War residing in the country. Among the 17,685 participants of the Great Patriotic War, 4,823 individuals are war invalids of the first and second groups. As of April 1st of the current year, the republic counted 6,394 individuals awarded with USSR orders or medals for selfless labour and impeccable military service on the home front during the war years, as well as 402 individuals who worked at air defence facilities, construction of defensive structures, front-line sections of railways and roads, and crew members of vessels interned in the ports of other states at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In Belarus, as of April 1st, there were 103 individuals who participated in special formations in demining territories and facilities after liberation from German occupation in 1943-1945. The country is home to 728 individuals who worked at enterprises, institutions, and organisations in Leningrad during the blockade period and were awarded the medal "For the Defence of Leningrad", as well as the badge "Resident of Blockaded Leningrad". Furthermore, Belarus has 941 disabled individuals from childhood due to wounds, concussions, or mutilations related to combat operations during the Great Patriotic War or its consequences. 1,732 individuals are family members of fallen soldiers and partisans. 31,549 residents of the republic have been recognised as former prisoners of Nazi concentration camps, prisons, ghettos, and other places of detention. -0-