MAKHACHKALA. March 19 (Interfax) - The authorities in Dagestan continue implementing a program aimed at buying weapons from the local population, the National Guard's regional leader Magomed Baachilov told reporters on Tuesday.
"Dagestan is implementing the Weapon Buyout program. It is led by the ministry of justice jointly with the interior ministry of the republic. In some cases the Interior Ministry also enlists the help of the National Guard. As for the numbers, over 117,000 units of civilian weapon are currently in the hands of 40,000-45,000 residents of the republic," Baachilov said.
Dagestan has 162 private security companies but not all of them fully comply with the gun law, he said.
"Many honestly comply with the provisions of the gun law. But there are some who once obtained an illegal weapon in violation of the law. Both the National Guard and the interior ministry took this fact under control. A vast number of civilian weapons were and are being seized," Baachilov said.