Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre-License Check: (A) Jsc Chop

VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #2482/01 3211115
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171115Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5199
RHFJUSC/HQS US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MOSCOW 012482

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/DMUSLU
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: (A) JSC CHOP
VITYAZ-S (D359202) AND (B) JSC CHOP VITYAZ-S
(D358555), SAMARA, RUSSIA

REFTEL: USDOC 05249

1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided
below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export
Administration Act.

2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine
the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, (A)
JSC CHOP Vityaz-S (D359202) AND (B) JSC CHOP Vityaz-S
(D358555), Samara, Russia. The company is listed on
BIS license application D359202 and D358555 as the
ultimate consignee of (A) Flir Systems Inc. model
thermovision sentinel thermal imaging system and (B)
flashlight camera. These items are controlled for
national security and nuclear non-proliferation
reasons under ECCN 6A003. The licensee is (A) Flir
Systems Inc., 27700 SW Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, OR
97070 and (B) Indigo Systems Corporation, 70 Castilian
dr., Goleta, CA 93117.

3. FSN Natalya Shipitsina first contacted JSC CHOP
Vityaz-S (Vityaz) on or about October 3, 2006. FSN
Shipitsina spoke with Viktor Zalozhny, who identified
himself as the General director of JSC Vityaz-S.
Zalozhny agreed to meet with ECO Moscow regarding the
planned purchase. The meeting was scheduled for
November 8, 2006. Zalozhny provided a mobile phone
number for any additional contacts.

4. Open source research conducted by FSN Shipitsina
was unable to verify the Samara address provided by
the company. A check with the website provided in
reftel showed the name Vityaz-S, and noted an address
and telephone number in Moscow. FSN Shipitsina
contacted the company via the Moscow telephone number,
and was told that there was no subunit, affiliate or
related company to Vityaz-S in Samara.

5. On November 7, 2006 FSN Shipitsina called Zalozhny
to confirm the meeting. Zalozhny stated that the
company no longer plans to buy the American equipment,
and therefore was reluctant to meet. FSN Shipitsina
was able to convince Zalozhny not to cancel the
meeting. Zalozhny said that his deputy, Mr. Aleksandr
Khokhlov, would be responsible for the meeting. The
meeting was confirmed for November 8 at 1500 (all
times local), and promised to meet the team at the
hotel and provide transportation to the offices of
Vityaz.

6. On November 8, 2006, an Export Control Team
consisting of ECO Donald Pearce and FSN Shipitsina
arrived in Samara to conduct the pre-license checks.
FSN Shipitsina attempted to contact Kholkhlov and
Zalozhny several times via both the mobile phone and
office phone numbers provided with no answer. Khokhlov
failed to show at the appointed time and location for
the meeting.

7. At 1515 the team hired a taxi and proceeded to 146,
Unikh Pionerov Avenu, Samara, the address noted in
reftel as the offices of Vityaz. At 1600 the team
arrived at the address, observing a ground floor
office with a small sign bearing the name Vityaz-S in
Russian. The team approached the office, observing
lights through the windows. The team entered the
office, which was under renovation, and without
furnishings. The workers in the office stated that
the company was operating from an adjacent office.

8. The team approached the second door, which was not
marked and had no doorknob. Prying the door open from
the edge, the team made entry into a darkened,
warehouse-like space; cluttered with a variety of
items. There was a second door to the left of the
entrance, where the team observed signs of occupancy.
Upon entering the office, the team observed a
similarly cluttered office, with two desks, one
computer, a television set and a large antenna of the
type used on a rooftop. The only appliance in the
office that was operating was the television. The
occupant, who identified himself as a guard, confirmed
that this was the office of Vityaz. The guard stated
that he did not know the whereabouts of Kholkhlov and
Zalozhny, and did not know when they would return.
The team returned to the taxi, and kept the office

under observation until 1700. The team then departed
from the area, as there was no sign of Kholkhlov or
Zalozhny.

7. Recommendations: Post does not/not consider JSC
CHOP Vityaz-S (D359202 and D358555), Samara, Russia to
be a reliable recipient of U.S. origin commodities or
technology. Post considers PLC completed unless BIS
cables with additional questions.

(FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE)
BURNS

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