Veteran Status and Categories
The Georgian law on veterans establishes categories of veterans of war and of the defence forces. The law defines veterans of the Second World War and persons equalized with them; veterans of combat operations on the territory of other states and persons equalized with them; veterans of combat operations for the territorial integrity, freedom and independence of Georgia and persons equalized with them; and veterans of the defence forces. The precise determination of status matters, because it is the category that decides which rights and benefits apply to a particular person and which document is needed to confirm them.
The institution of equalized persons creates a legal bridge: the law places them on an equal footing with veterans of the corresponding category and thereby widens the circle of protection to persons who themselves participated in or served the needs of combat operations. In practice, an incorrect determination of the category is often the very reason for the refusal of benefits, which is why legal support in establishing status is worthwhile.