EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: (A) AND (B)

UNCLAS MOSCOW 004960 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/DMUSLU USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: (A) AND (B) KALIBR 2001, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. (A) D382424 AND (B) D382425 REFTEL: USDOC 08143 ¶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) and (B) Kalibr 2001, Vidnoe City, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application (A) D382424 and (B) D382425 as the ultimate consignee of (A) Bushnell yardage pro 4-12X42 rangefinder and (B) Bushnell yardage pro 4-12X42 rangefinder and 12g shotguns 28 inches semi-auto. These items are controlled for foreign policy and crime control reasons under ECCN OA987. The licensee is RSR group, Inc., 20 Cedarfield Commons, Rochester, NY 14612. ¶3. On September 18, 2007, Export Control Attaches Donald Pearce, Peter Liston and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the offices of Inter Hunt Ltd. 17/2, Bakhrushina st., Moscow, Russia. The export control team met with Aleksander Krasovsky, Director-General, Alexander Bobovich, Commercial Director, and Kirill Ukraintsev, International Relations Manager. ¶4. Inter Hunt Ltd. (IHL) was founded in 2004 as a distributor and retailer of hunting supplies and clothing. Kalibr 2001, the retail shop referenced in the license application, is owned and operated by IHL. IHL originally brokered several deals for high-end shotguns for clients, and decided in 2006 to obtain a permit to sell firearms. Currently IHL is a distributor for Verney Carron, a manufacturer of high- end hunting shotguns and rifles in France. IHL would like to add to that line similar rifles and shotguns from U.S. manufacturers. Most IHL clients spend approximately 25000 - 26000 Roubles (1000 USD) per gun. IHL is in the process of opening a second store located closer to the city center. IHL is hoping to become an exclusive dealer for rifles and shotguns from U.S. manufacturer Smith and Wesson. The company currently employs 12, and will hire an additional 10- 12 to run the new store. ¶5. The fifteen shotguns referenced in reftel will be utilized for fire testing and certification for sale by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russian acronym MVD),and thereafter will be sold. Under Russian firearms laws, a company may only import three of a particular model of rifle or shotgun prior to certification. The fifteen shotguns covered by this license will be three each of the following: Mossberg Model 935 12ga. 28in. Autoloader type 82035, Mossberg 930 12ga. 28in. Autoloader all-purpose type 85110, Mossberg 930 12ga. 28in. Autoloader blued type 85115, Mossberg 930 camouflage type 85210, Smith and Wesson Model 1012 12ga. 28in. semiautomatic type 822300. Upon type acceptance by MVD, IHL plans to import larger quantities as demand requires. The laser rangefinder riflescopes in reftel will be sold to ultimate end users in Russia for hunting and sporting use. ¶6. Russian firearms laws require gun shops to build walk-in safe like facilites for the storage of firearms and ammunition. Both IHL retail stores meet or exceed the requirements, including hardened doors, electronic surveillance and security systems, and direct 24 hour monitoring of security alarms by MVD Militsia. Russian citizens are permitted to purchase a total of five rifles and/or five shotguns. ¶7. Recommendations: Post recommends Kalibr 2001, Vidnoe city, 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/SBOZEK/DPEARCE) BURNS