Moldovan army: three deaths in less than a month

A military conscript, serving in the “Moldova” mechanized infantry was found shot dead on July 12, late at night.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, the soldier – Mihai Usurelu, aged 18, resident of Glodeni district, was called up for military service in January 2013. He was killed by a fire shot in the chest. According to preliminary results of the expertise, the fire was caused by the improper handling of the gun. The military police and the military prosecution are investigating into this tragic incident.

Oleg Filipciuc, another young soldier, on a regular military service in Moldovan armed forces, was found hanged in a forest near the Bulboaca military training center (near Chisinau) on June 25 morning. According to the preliminary expertise, the soldier committed suicide.

On June 14, another young man, on military service according to a contract, was found dead by hanging – some 700 meters off his native home, where he had come to for a leave for medical reasons.

In December 2012, Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta decreed to form a special commission to eradicate bullying in the armed forces. It comprised the representatives of the MoD, psychiatrists and psychologists, representatives of the military prosecution office and profiled human-right organizations, including The Soldiers’ Mothers. Two months later, the commission submitted a report, writing that in 2011-2012, the rate of bullying in the army had dropped by one-third.

In September 2011, then-Acting President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marian Lupu fired Republic of Moldova’s General Headquarters Chief, national army commander brigadier general Iurie Dominic for 5 tragic deaths in the army that happened over shorter than 3 years then.

Adapted from Infotag