Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre-License Check: Special

VZCZCXYZ0491
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #0656 0671250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071250Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7067
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000656

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/JHATFIELD
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SPECIAL
PURPOSE MILITIA UNIT, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO.
D390850

REFTEL: USDOC 00818

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,
Special Purpose Militia Unit, Moscow, Russia. The
company is listed on BIS license application D390850
as the ultimate consignee of two thermal imagers.
These items are controlled for national security and
nuclear non-proliferation reasons under ECCN 6A003.
The licensee is L3 Communications Infrared Products,
13532 N.Central Expressway MS37, Dallas, TX 75243.

3. On March 6, 2008, Export Control Attache Peter
Liston and LES Natalya Shipitsina conducted the
requested pre-license check at the offices of Special
Purpose Militia Unit, 3rd Kolobovsky side st, 16,
Moscow, Russia. The export control team met with
Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander.

4. Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander of the Special
Purpose Militia Unit, SPETSNAZ, stated that the unit
was established on November 9, 1978, in preparation
for securing site for the upcoming Olympic games. The
special unit was never disbanded and has become an
important operational arm of the Russian Ministry of
Interior's special operations tactics, being used for
everything from surveillance to executing search
warrants and effecting arrests.

5. The Export Control Team Moscow believes that the
items in reftel are items commonly used by special
operations units within law enforcement worldwide.
Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander of SPETSNAZ stated
that his unit has trained with similar items and is
familiar with its uses. Orlov indicated that he
understands the end-use requirements stated with the
license.

6. Recommendations: Post recommends Special Purpose
Militia Unit, Moscow, Russia, as reliable recipients
of sensitive U.S. origin commodities. It is requested
that post be notified of final disposition of the
application, and of any shipments for this
organization in order to conduct appropriate FCS
follow-up and statistical reporting.
(FCS MOSCOW/MOGRADY/PLISTON)
BURNS

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