EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SRI

UNCLAS MOSCOW 005148 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTER USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SRI BIOMEDICINSKOY KHIMII IM. V.N. OREKHOVICHA RAMN, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D382923 REFTEL: USDOC 08772 ¶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, SRI Biomedicinskoy Khimii im. V.N.Orekhovicha, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application D382923 as the ultimate consignee of an acrylic glove box chamber with airlock door. These items are controlled for chemical or biological warfare, anti-terrorism reasons under ECCN 2B352. The licensee is Plas-Labs Inc., 401 E. North st., Lansing, MI 48906. ¶3. On October 19, 2007, Export Control Attache Peter Liston, Export Control Attache Donald Pearce, and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the offices of SRI Biomedicinskoy Khimii im. V.N.Orekhovicha, 10, Pogodinskaya st., Moscow, Russia. The export control team met with Alexander I. Archakov, Director, Full member of RAMS, Prof. ¶4. Institute of Biomedical Chemistry RAMS is a structural subdivision of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Staff consists of more than 200 research associates, including 2 Full Members of RAMS, 7 Professors, 72 Candidates and 30 Doctors of Science. There are 3 departments and 8 research laboratories at the Institute. The basic research and development activity of the Institute is carried out in accordance with research priority directions approved by Medico-Biological Sciences Committee of RAMS. They are: - study of genetic, molecular, biochemical, physiological and morphological principals of vital activity to prevent diseases and renew unsound functions; - study of pharmacological regulation in normal and pathology. New drug design and computer modeling. Institute of Biomedical Chemistry RAMS is one of the leading subdivisions of RAMS on fundamental directions of present-day biomedical science such as bioinformatics, proteomics, nanotechnologies. The most significant scientific and practical achievements of the Institute are: development of hepatoprotector "Phosphogliv", revealing of oncomarkers at the initial stage of oncological diseases, creation of express-diagnosis method of acute viral hepatitis, creation of vaccine prototype against hepatitis C. The Institute is large complex with multi-layered security. It is located within a fenced-in compound, with 24 hour manned security. The export control team was given a tour of the facility and the lab area where the acrylic glove box chamber with airlock door will be located. The lab where the glove box will be located is a single entry lab room with a dead-bolt locking system that only 4 staff members have keys and access. The building where the glove box will be housed appears to be in the process of a security upgrade, with electronic card-key access system being recently installed on some lab doors. ¶5. ECO NOTE: During the PLC at SRI Biomedicinskoy Khimii im., the ECO team discovered that Alexander I. Archakov, the point of contact for the glove box, had been declared permanently ineligible to visit the United States by the U.S. Consulate in Moscow on or about March 2007 under section 212(a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, which prohibits issuance of a visa to any alien who seeks to enter the United States to engage in any unlawful activity. On October 22, 2007, Export Control Attache Liston confirmed with the U.S. Consulate in Moscow that Alexander I. Archekov had been denied a tourist visa on his last three (3) attempts to obtain one. ¶6. Recommendations: Post recommends against issuing this license at this time to SRI Biomedicinskoy Khimii im. V.N.Orekhovicha, Moscow, Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive U.S. origin commodities for the reason stated above. Post suggests that HQ explores with State the reason Alexander I Archekov has been declared permanently ineligible to receive a U.S. visa. 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/PLISTON) BURNS