KAZAN. Nov 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The Interior Ministry of Russia's internal republic of Tatarstan is opposed to free sale of arms, deputy head of the ministry's public security police Vladimir Sokolov said on Thursday.
"Established channels of illegal arms supplies from Izhevsk armories and from Russia's trouble spots are active in Tatarstan. The leaders of the republic's Interior Ministry are resolutely opposed to introducing free sale of firearms to individuals," Sokolov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
It is not a problem for criminals to buy arms, he said. This year alone, 82 crimes with the use of firearms have been committed in Tatarstan.
"Dozens of firearms pieces are seized during special operations," Sokolov went on. Six barreled and nine smoothbore arms pieces were seized during the Shchit operation alone. The Dinamitbalans operation made it possible to seize another 59 arms and ammunition pieces.
According to the Tatarstan Interior Ministry, there are 365 ammo warehouses and 12 explosive warehouses on the republic's territory. There are 170 private guard companies, whose personnel are allowed to carry arms, and a total of 73,000 people have licenses for storing it in Tatarstan.
The internal republic launched procurement of arms from its residents in the mid-1990s. Citizens have given up over 7,000 arms pieces since then. They have brought to police stations 458 rifles, sawn-off rifles and cartridges for them this year alone.