YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic war and the Artsakh freedom war, and the family members of those killed in military operations during these wars refuse their current monthly monetary aid of 6 thousand drams (about 13 dollars) and demand restoration of their privileges. Hovhannes Rushanian, disabled veteran of the Great Patriotic war, former employee of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and Albert Manukian, disabled veteran of the Artsakh war, stated this during the April 26 press conference at the Hayeli Club. In the words of A. Munukian, by abolishing the privileges, the Armenian government and the National Assembly violated the rights of the servicemen and their families, which are stipulated by an interstate agreement. He noted that under the agreement on the mutual recognition of the privileges and guarantees of the participants and disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic war, participants in military operations in the territory of other states, and the family members of those killed in action, which was signed in Minsk in 1992, the disabled veterans of war are entitled to a 50% discount in utility payments. He said that he filed an application regarding this issue to the RA Presidential Staff, which readdressed his application to the government that in its turn sent it to the Ministry of Social Security, from which there came a response that it is not within the ministry' competence to restore or establish any privileges. A. Manukian stated that he intends to apply to the Armenian President again. He noted that the matter concerns 1,060 disabled veterans and 2,700 family members of those killed in action. In his opinion, restoring the privileges of 3,700 persons would not significantly affect the country's state budget.

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