Afghan war veterans to keep transport benefits
WWII and Afghan war veterans will keep their benefits on public transport courtesy of an intergovernmental agreement signed by then Belarus prime minister Vyachaslau Kebich in Moscow in 1993. The agreement has turned out to override the law on benefits, with war veterans now being able again to have free rides on the public transport and even trains. As soon as the European Radio for Belarus learned this news, we called the terminals and got the confirmation that the benefits were indeed restored. According to Vasil Laurynovich, Director of the Minsktrans, all of the company's branches received instructions that even war veterans from the other CIS member states were entitled to free rides on the territory of Belarus.
ВVasil Laurynovich: “We draw your attention to the implementation of the effective agreement on the mutual recognition of the rights to free rides by the disabled and WWII veterans and similar persons”.
This international agreement was signed on March 12, 1993 in Moscow by the heads of the state from CIS member countries. Vyachaslau Kebich was then Belarus prime minister. Mr Kebich recalled in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus that it was him putting the signature under this agreement.
In the words of Vasil Laurynovich, Director of Minsktrans, this inter-governmental agreement signed by Kebich almost 15 years ago, overrides the Belarus's Law on Benefits.
It means that under the inter-governmental agreement, veterans of the World War II and the participants of the conflict in Afghanistan are entitled to free rides on the public transport, despite the new Law on Social Benefits has deprived them of this right.
It is very important the transport officials in Belarus have already been notified about this agreement.
ERB's file:
In 2007, there were around 65,000 WWIIveterans, including 15,000 invalids. Under the law on benefits, only invalids could enjoy tge benefits. Now all of 65,000 veterans can have free rides. There are 21,000 Afghan warveterans in Belarus. They are also entitled to free rides on the public transport.
Minsktrans director also said that officers of all of the law-enforcement agencies are also entitled to free public transport, under the president's decree No 403 dated October 9, 1995.
Vasil Laurynovich: “The decree lists fire supervisors, financial police, military school cadets, police academy cadets, police officers, prosecutors, KGB officers, military officers, border control officers and the officers from the State Control Committee who carry a special badge”.
Minsktrans feels embarassed. Under the law on benefits, all of the above mentioned categories are required to pay their public transport fares. However, under the president's decree, they are not. Laurynovich says that conductors and controllers do not tend to touch on the owners of the special badge.
Thus, only schoolchildren, students, pensioners and the people involved in the Chernobyl rescue effort are deprived of the transport benefits.
.
Photo: bymedia.net
ВVasil Laurynovich: “We draw your attention to the implementation of the effective agreement on the mutual recognition of the rights to free rides by the disabled and WWII veterans and similar persons”.
This international agreement was signed on March 12, 1993 in Moscow by the heads of the state from CIS member countries. Vyachaslau Kebich was then Belarus prime minister. Mr Kebich recalled in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus that it was him putting the signature under this agreement.
In the words of Vasil Laurynovich, Director of Minsktrans, this inter-governmental agreement signed by Kebich almost 15 years ago, overrides the Belarus's Law on Benefits.
It means that under the inter-governmental agreement, veterans of the World War II and the participants of the conflict in Afghanistan are entitled to free rides on the public transport, despite the new Law on Social Benefits has deprived them of this right.
It is very important the transport officials in Belarus have already been notified about this agreement.
ERB's file:
In 2007, there were around 65,000 WWIIveterans, including 15,000 invalids. Under the law on benefits, only invalids could enjoy tge benefits. Now all of 65,000 veterans can have free rides. There are 21,000 Afghan warveterans in Belarus. They are also entitled to free rides on the public transport.
Minsktrans director also said that officers of all of the law-enforcement agencies are also entitled to free public transport, under the president's decree No 403 dated October 9, 1995.
Vasil Laurynovich: “The decree lists fire supervisors, financial police, military school cadets, police academy cadets, police officers, prosecutors, KGB officers, military officers, border control officers and the officers from the State Control Committee who carry a special badge”.
Minsktrans feels embarassed. Under the law on benefits, all of the above mentioned categories are required to pay their public transport fares. However, under the president's decree, they are not. Laurynovich says that conductors and controllers do not tend to touch on the owners of the special badge.
Thus, only schoolchildren, students, pensioners and the people involved in the Chernobyl rescue effort are deprived of the transport benefits.
.
Photo: bymedia.net
