Refugee crisis as biggest challenge for interior ministry subdivisions

Chisinau, Oct. 7 /MOLDPRES/- This year, the refugee crisis represented the biggest challenge for the subdivisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The head of the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), Viorel Cernăuțeanu, made the statement today at a joint press conference with the heads of the MAI subdivisions.

According to the IGP leadership, in addition to the basic activity, which is ensuring public order, increased attention has been directed towards refugees. "Following the increase in the number of refugees, the number of means of transport in road traffic also increased, which increased the activity of patrol agents. At the same time, since the beginning of the current year, the police have been notified in over 275 thousand cases, 17 thousand less than in the similar period last year", said Cernăuțeanu.

Border Police head Rosian Vasiloi said that as a result of the refugee crisis, the flow of people and means of transport at the border has increased significantly. "This has put increased pressure on employees. At the same time, in the first nine months of the year, 1,036 criminal cases were initiated, up by 35% than in the same period last year. They concern: the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition, drugs or tobacco products. Also, 2,772 cases of illegal crossing of the state border and 224 cases of organizing illegal migration were established," Vasiloi said.

According to the Migration and Asylum Bureau, since the beginning of this year, more than 9,300 asylum applications have been submitted in the Republic of Moldova, compared to 75 in 2021. Most requests were from Ukrainian citizens.