Cahul tragedy raises questions for Defence Ministry
The Defence Ministry has confirmed only the wounding of a conscript, but said nothing about a 16-year-old boy who died in hospital after reportedly going into shock. The opposition is demanding answers from Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi and President Maia Sandu.
A tragic incident took place at a military unit in Cahul. A 20-year-old contract soldier was handling a service Glock pistol carelessly. A shot was fired, injuring two people.
The Defence Ministry confirmed the incident. According to the ministry, a conscript was accidentally wounded “as a result of improper handling of a weapon”. The incident happened because of a “violation of safety rules”, the ministry said.
The wounded soldier received first aid. His condition is described as satisfactory. The National Army has launched an internal investigation, while law enforcement agencies are conducting a separate inquiry.
But the Defence Ministry’s official statement makes no mention of the second victim.
Death reportedly caused by shock
According to police, a 16-year-old teenager was nearby at the time of the shooting. He had come to the military unit to visit a friend. The young man was frightened by the shot, lost consciousness and later died of cardiac arrest.
Doctors were unable to save him. The Defence Ministry ignored this fact in its statement. It reported only the wounded conscript, whose life is not in danger.
“This is the ninth death since Nosatîi took office”
The opposition is demanding explanations. Prominent opposition figure Valeriu Ostalep sharply criticised Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi and President Maia Sandu, who serves as commander-in-chief.
“During Nosatîi’s time as minister, this is the ninth death in the army. Nobody is held responsible for anything. I am not even mentioning that the commander-in-chief could explain why nine people have died in her army in peacetime, and what kind of army management system this is. Who exactly is responsible for this?” Ostalep said.
The PSRM, meanwhile, called the authorities’ official version of the teenager’s death “absurd”. According to the opposition, the authorities are deliberately distorting information to conceal disorder in the army and deflect suspicion from Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi.
Critics say responsibility should go beyond direct participants
The Cahul tragedy is not the first death linked to Moldova’s army in recent years. Opposition figures say the military has seen suicides, accidental shootings and self-inflicted gunshot incidents.
Critics argue that responsibility for such tragedies should not fall only on those directly involved. It should also extend to those whose job is to ensure order, safety and discipline in the army.
For now, they say, the minister appears more focused on plans for new radars than on problems inside the military itself.
