Victims of the SED regime in the GDR will receive significantly better compensation payments in future. A law already passed by the Bundestag has now also been approved by the Bundesrat.
It stipulates that the pension for former GDR prisoners will increase by 70 euros to 400 euros per month from July. In addition, the victims' pension will automatically increase in line with the general pension trend. The previous means test is to be abolished. The law also simplifies the recognition of consequential damage to the health of SED victims. A hardship fund will also be set up.
"With this law, we are taking a major step forward in the reparation process for the victims of the SED dictatorship," said Thuringia's Federal and European Affairs Minister Stefan Gruhner (CDU). "We pay tribute to the courage of the people who stood up to the SED regime under the most difficult conditions. Their resistance ultimately paved the way to freedom."
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