Glock 19 remains in Army use; Defense Minister comments on Balti incident
The Ministry of Defense has no plans to abandon the Glock 19 pistol despite an incident in which a soldier was injured on June 16 at a training center in Balti. Minister Anatolie Nosatîi stated on Wednesday that the Glock 19 is a high-performance, state-of-the-art weapon used by many Western armies, and attributed the incident to human error.
Incident overview regarding weapon handling violation
"We are discussing a case of violation of weapons handling rules, which occurred due to the personal indiscipline of a contract soldier and improper handling of a firearm," said Nosatîi after the Government meeting.
The minister clarified that the investigation is being carried out by the prosecutor's office and the police, and the Ministry of Defense has committed to providing all necessary support.
"We have already implemented effective measures, drawing on previous cases. We have increased the number of training sessions and assessments for those authorized to handle weapons. Additionally, we are actively collaborating with other agencies, such as the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor's Office, to raise awareness among military personnel regarding their responsibilities in relation to such incidents," Nosatîi explained.
The minister noted that the main error in handling the Glock 19 pistol, which has been involved in other similar incidents, lies in the violation of technical safety measures.
"The cartridge should not be left in the chamber unnecessarily. In previous cases, this has been the primary violation leading to tragedies," the official emphasized.
Nosatîi dismissed any speculation regarding conflicts or settling scores among colleagues in the June 16 incident, reiterating that it was a case of “carelessness in handling the weapon.”
"All individuals found guilty of failing to adhere to technical safety measures or military service regulations will face sanctions in accordance with military law and national legislation," the minister added.
We remind you that a soldier sustained an abdominal gunshot wound during training activities after a colleague accidentally discharged a Glock 19 pistol. The incident took place on June 16 at approximately 4:40 p.m. at the Training Center of the "Moldova" Motorized Infantry Brigade in Bălți. The injured soldier was conscious when transported to the hospital, where he underwent surgery the same day.
Health Minister Emil Ceban stated on Wednesday, June 17, prior to the Government meeting, that the soldier is in the Resuscitation Department of Bălți Hospital, with a condition that is serious but stable.
The bullet traversed the xiphoid appendix, sternum, stomach, liver, spleen, and the lower part of the left lung, exiting through a rib. During surgery, the stomach and liver were sutured, the spleen was removed, and the lung was sutured and drained. A team from the Republican Clinical Hospital assisted the doctors in Bălți, the minister reported.
