Seniors report missing pensions

Author: St́epanâ Šurigini

Čest́i - A number of pensioners in Agausia's Samudamodi region have reported missing monthly payments from the government. The region is home to a majority of Agausia's agricultural industry, and many pensioners are retired farmers and laborers.  

Most pensioners, like seventy-six-year-old retired citrus farmer Ali Ilmazi, are fully reliant on funds from the government to make a living and pay bills. "My pension wasn't just a source of income. It is a lifeline for me. Without it, I'm left struggling to make ends meet and pay my bills. It's like a rug has been pulled out from under me, and I'm left wondering how I'm going to survive."

Ilmazi is one of three residents in the Šovi commune who has reported missing pensions. In total a number of 37 retirees in the Samudamodi region have reported their pensions missing for one or more months since the year began. The issue only appears to be affecting residents in the Samudamodi region. 

The situation is extremely reminiscent of a scandal which occurred in 2019, when a high-ranking staff member within the Health, Social and Labor Protections Ministry was found guilty of stealing pensions from Agausian citizens. The scandal forced the resignation of Minister Mareḱ Ḱovalsḱi in early 2020.

When commenting on the situation Deputy Health Minister Aleksandre Boḱovi stated that given the fact that the missing payment were geographically situated in one region it is likely that there was an error in reporting to the local office in Čest́i. He also stated that an investigation looking into the situation. Boḱovi also ruled out the possibility of corruption or misuse of the funds ensuring the public that protects were in place to prevent such incidents. 

In the past there have also been accusations of the state withholding public funds and using them elsewhere. During former president Eduard Avagâni's (AL) administration Prime Minister Osḱar Ṕet́opi's (SD) cabinet was accused of using funds earmarked for prisons and schools to build hotels and spas for tourists. However, this was never proven.   

 (Agausian Translation) 

Ramdenime ṕensionerma Agûzis Samudamodi regionši ganatsëkada, rom mtavrobisgan ḱoveltviuri gadasakadebi ar aris. Regionši mdebareobs Agûzës soplis meurneobis indust́rës ûmet́esi natsëli da bevri ṕensioneri aris ṕensioneri permeri da muša.  

Ṕensionerta ûmet́esoba, iseve rogortsëâ samotsëdatekvsmet́i tsëlis ṕensâze gasé tsët́rusebis permeri Ali Ilmazi, srulad aris damoḱidebé mtavrobis saksrebze, rata gamoimušaos da gadaikados gadasakadebi. "Čemi ṕensâ ar iḱo mkolod šemosavlis tsëḱaro, is čemtvis mašvelâ. Amis gareše me vtsëdilob tavi gamoviḱvlio da gadasakadebi gadavikado. Es titkos kvemodan kaliča gadmomiǵes da me. Maint́eresebs, rogor gadavrčebi."

Ilmazi aris ert-erti im sami mtsëkovrebidan Šovi ḱomunaši, romlebmatsëâ ganatsëkades ṕensëbis daḱargvis šesakeb. Mtlânobaši, Samudamodis regionši otsëdačvidmet́i ṕensionerma ganatsëkada, rom ṕensëbi gakra erti an met́i tvis ganmavlobaši tsëlis datsëḱebidan. Rogortsëâ čans, es saḱitki mkolod Samudamodi regionis mtsëkovreblebs ekeba.

Sit́uatsëâ žalân mogvagonebs sḱandals, romelitsëâ mokda 2019 tsëls, rodesatsëâ žandatsëvis, sotsëaluri da šromis datsëvis saminist́ros maǵalčinosani agûsës mokalakëbis ṕensëbis kurdobaši damnašaved tsënes. Sḱandalma aižula minist́ri Mareḱ Ḱovalsḱi gadamǵariḱo 2020 tsëlis dasatsëḱisši.

It́uatsës ḱoment́irebisas žandatsëvis minist́ris móǵilem Aleksandre Boḱovi ganatsëkada, rom imis gatvalistsënebit, rom daḱargé tanka geograpiulad mdebareobda ert regionši, savarûdó, rom iḱo šetsëdoma Čest́i aǵilobriv opisši moksenebisas. Man aseve ganatsëkada, rom gamožëba vitarebas iḱvlevs. Boḱovi aseve gamoritsëka ḱoruptsës an saksrebis borot́ad gamoḱenebis šesažlebloba, ratsëâ ûzrunvelḱops sazogadoebis datsëvas msgavsi intsëdent́ebis tavidan asatsëleblad.

Tsëarsulši aseve iḱo braldebebi sakelmtsëpos mër sakelmtsëpo saksrebis daḱavebisa da mati skvagan gamoḱenebis šesakeb. Ḱopili ṕrezident́is Eduard Avagâni (AL) administ́ratsës dros ṕremër-minist́r Osḱar Ṕet́opi (SD) ḱabinetsëâ daadanašûles tsëkëbisa da sḱolebistvis gamoḱopili tankebis gamoḱeneba t́urist́ebistvis sast́umroebisa da sṕa-salonebis asašeneblad. Tumtsëâ, es arasodes dadast́urda