On May 8 a solemn ceremony took place in Rzhev whereby 29 disabled war veterans, citizens of Staritsa, Nelidovo, Zharkovskiy, Bely, Selizharovo, Ostashkov, Rzhev, Olenino, Toropets, Andreapol, Zapadnaya Dvina and Zubtsov districts received certificates for free phone line installation.

During the ceremony the World War Two veterans received certificates, telephones and gifts from Deputy General Director - CenterTelecom Tver branch director Eugeny Savenkov, Security Committee Chairman of the Russian Federation State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev, and representatives of Tver regional Administration.

Deputy General Director and CenterTelecom Tver branch director Eugeny Savenkov addressed the veterans with the warm words of congratulation.

Just during the last 5 years CenterTelecom Tver branch delivered access to the local telephone network to 2.5 thousand disabled war veterans residing in the area. In 2004 over 500 phone lines were installed. A lot of veterans reside in private sector where there is no free line capacity. Phone installation requires significant investments. That is why CenterTelecom Tver branch uses wireless equipment and cellular communication operators to address the issue. In 2003-2004 disabled war veterans received over 600 cellular phones with about 40 free minutes a month.

CenterTelecom Tver branch management, Tver region authorities, and war veterans highly value the assistance provided by their MP Vladimir Vasilyev, Security Committee Chairman of the Russian Federation State Duma, in solving the issue of providing telephony services to war veterans. It is mainly due to his efforts and persistence that in December 2003 additional funding for the Federal Law “On veterans” has been provided. CenterTelecom Tver branch received an additional allocation of RUR 8 million to cover the costs of providing local telephony services to social categories of citizens.

Photo: Deputy General Director - CenterTelecom Tver branch director Eugeny Savenkov (center) and Security Committee Chairman of the Russian Federation State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev deliver a certificate for free phone installation to Alexey Nikolaevich Fedorov, a war veteran from the City of Toropets.