EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: WORLD HUNTING

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000667 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTER USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: WORLD HUNTING TECHNOLOGY LTD, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D368100 REFTEL: USDOC 06725 ¶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, World Hunting Technology Ltd., St. Petersburg, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application D368100 as the ultimate consignee of Accushots 30 mm tube side-wheel adjustable turret (SWAT) range estimating a.o. scope w/illuminated mil-dot reticle, multi emerald lens coating, lockable and resetable windage/elevation target knobs, flip-open lens cover and sun shade, 5th gen ts platforms 3-9X40 full size mil-dot scope with sapphire lens coating, zero lockable/zero resettable target knobs - flip-open lens cover, adjusted 100 yards, 4X32 full size sporting type scope complete with scope riQs. These items are controlled for foreign policy reasons under ECCN OA987. The licensee is Leapers, Inc., 32700 Capitol st., Livonia, MI 48150. ¶3. On January 31, 2007, Export Control Attache Donald Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the offices of World Hunting Technology Ltd. (WHT),61, Vyborgskaya Nab, St. Petersburg, Russia. The export control team met with Yury Alexeev, General Director. ¶4. WHT was founded in 2001 with three employees as a wholesale distributor of hunting supplies. The company now employs nine and specializes in imports of hunting and outdoors supplies from the United States and Europe for the Russian market. WHT maintains exclusive distribution agreements with hunting equipment manufacturers such as Calis Optics (Austria),Fox (USA),Stearns Clothing (USA),Nielsen & Kellerman Weather Systems (USA). The company has its offices and warehouse at a commercial office and retail complex in St. Petersburg. WHT has agreements with over 160 licensed firearms dealers located throughout Russia, and does not export. ¶5. WHT has recently contracted with exporter Leapers to supply a variety of optics for use in hunting and target shooting. A type of target shooting called "Field Target" has become very popular with Russian gun enthusiasts. Field Targets are metal silhouettes that represent game animals, and allow hunters to simulate hunting conditions. The majority of the order in reftel will be sold to two Field Target Clubs, located in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The remainder of the scopes will be sold to firearms dealers for sale to hunters and sport shooters. ¶6. The items in reftel will be stored in a locked warehouse at the company facilities until transferred to the retail distributor. The facilities are guarded at all times, and are protected by a redundant electronic security system with remote notification to company officers. Sales of firearms and related equipment are controlled by the GOR, and retailers are required to meet strict security regulations regarding storage and inventory control. Sales for export are prohibited without proper permits from the GOR. ¶7. Recommendations: Post recommends World Hunting Technology Ltd., St. Petersburg, Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive U.S. origin commodities. It is Qquested 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