A conscript soldier who received a gunshot wound during training in Baltisuffered due to violation of the rules for handling weapons. Defense Minister Anatoly Nosaty spoke about this after a government meeting on June 17. According to him, the incident occurred “due to the personal indiscipline of the contractor and improper handling of weapons.” The minister added that based on the results of the investigation, those responsible will be brought to justice.
“The incident occurred due to the contractor’s personal indiscipline and improper handling of weapons. Based on the results of the preliminary investigation, we have already made the first conclusions and will take measures to prevent similar cases in the future,” Nosaty said.
The minister clarified that the investigation is being carried out by the prosecutor’s office and the General Inspectorate of Police, and the Ministry of Defense is providing assistance to clarify the circumstances of the incident. According to him, in recent years the department has strengthened the training and testing of military personnel in handling weapons, and also attracts specialists from other government agencies to increase the level of responsibility among the military.
“We have already taken effective measures based on previous cases. We have increased the number of briefings and various tests for clearance to handle weapons. We are also actively involving employees of other government agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the prosecutor’s office, to raise awareness among military personnel about responsibility for such incidents,” the minister explained.
Nosatii thanked the emergency services personnel who promptly responded to the incident and helped stabilize the condition of the wounded soldier, as well as the doctors of the Balti Clinical Hospital.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the emergency service staff, who responded very quickly and made a significant contribution to stabilizing the condition of the wounded soldier, as well as to the doctors of the Balti Hospital, who acted professionally. Now the soldier feels much better,” Nosatiy emphasized.
Responding to a question about whether the Glock 19 pistol will remain in service with the National Army after several incidents with this weapon, Nosaty explained that the cause of incidents is human error.
“The Glock 19 pistol is a modern and highly effective weapon that is used in many Western armies. The main mistake when handling it is the violation of technical safety measures – the cartridge should not be in the chamber unless necessary. In previous cases, it was this violation that became the main cause of tragedies,” the minister noted.
When asked about a possible conflict between the two servicemen, Nosaty replied that it was a matter of negligence, not a quarrel, and refused to disclose additional details until the investigation was completed.
The minister shared that, based on the results of the investigation, all those responsible will be subject to disciplinary and, if necessary, criminal liability.
“All persons found guilty of failure to comply with technical safety measures or rules for military service will be punished in accordance with the military regulations and national legislation,” Nosaty added.
Earlier on June 16, the Ministry of Defense reportedthat a conscript soldier was wounded in the abdomen during training sessions. According to the department, another soldier accidentally shot him with his Glock 19 service pistol.
Later, doctors reported that the operation was successful and the young man’s life was not in danger.
Minister of Health Emil Ceban June 17 reportedthat the soldier is in serious but stable condition. The head of the department emphasized that the patient is being monitored by doctors from the Balti Clinical Hospital.
Let us remind you that the last high-profile incident occurred in a military unit in Cahul. There, a conscript accidentally shot and killed a minor visitor and wounded another soldier. Incident discussed in parliament. In addition, he aroused the indignation of the opposition, which demanded the resignation of the Minister of Defense Anatoly Nosatiy. The government expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and promised to conduct a thorough investigation.
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There have been 19 military personnel in Moldova over the past five years died while on duty or off duty. This was revealed in a Ministry of Defense report compiled for Newsmaker. The department clarified that in all cases, the military notified the police and the prosecutor’s office about the incident, and also conducted their own internal investigation.
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