All the information about small and light guns and their holders will be included in an electronic register created at the Ministry of the Interior within a US$113,000 project that was financed by the Embassy of Romania in Chisinau. According to Minister Dorin Recean, the register will ensure more rigorous control and better management of the legal use of guns, IPN reports.

All the police inspectorates of the country were outfitted with computers and other IT equipment. Alexei Belous, senior inspector at the General Police Inspectorate, said the register will contain data about the gun, the company that imported it into Moldova and the person holding it, including the name and surname, the place of residence, the personal numeric code and other data.

Head of the General Police Inspectorate’s Public Security Division Marin Maxian said the register enables to access information about guns without submitting written applications. It will contribute to the acceleration of different procedures, especially within investigations into the use and circulation of small and light guns.

Romania’s Ambassador in Chisinau Marius Lazurca said the project forms part of the Romanian Government’s actions aimed at supporting Moldova’s European integration efforts. It will help increase the safety degree of people by instituting a modern arms management and control mechanism.

UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova Nicola Harington-Buhay said the implementation of the modern technology offered by this project will help the authorities to ensure a more efficient arms control, while the people will enjoy a safer environment where they will feel more protected.

There are over 53,000 gun owners in Moldova. As many as 52 offenses involving guns were committed in Moldova in the first ten months of this year. 70% of them were committed as a result of inattention.