BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: COMPLETED PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001594 DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DDTC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC RS KOMC SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: COMPLETED PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050104476 REF: STATE 56172 ¶1. (U) Summary: Arsenal Hunting Equipment representatives confirmed their company wanted to import reftel firearms under license ¶050104476. The company was established in 1994 under the name V.V.V. Ltd., and the three original owners still serve as the company President and Vice Presidents. Arsenal Hunting Equipment sold about 100 such firearms last year, which company officials said could be used to hunt large game. Post verified the bona fides of Arsenal Hunting Equipment and recommends it as a reliable end-user of United States Munitions List (USML) items. End Summary. ¶2. (U) In a May 30 meeting, Arsenal Hunting Equipment General Director Valeriy Sevastiyanov and International Procurement Manager Irina Zazdravnykh told us Arsenal Hunting Equipment was established in 1994. Its original name was V.V.V. Ltd., and the name was changed to Arsenal Hunting Equipment in December 2007. The company has three owners: company President Valeriy Startsov, Vice President Vladimir Cherivichniy, and Vice President Aleksandr Seleznov. Sevastiyanov has served as the General Director since ¶1997. The Deputy General Director is Nikolai Sirdorkin. ¶3. (U) Sevastiyanov provided us with copies of licensing documents that give Arsenal Hunting Equipment the right to import firearms. ¶4. (U) Sevastiyanov told us the ultimate end users of these firearms will be private hunters. He said Russian hunters use such firearms to hunt bear, elk, and bison. He added that some hunters might use these firearms to hunt big game on safari in Africa. ¶5. (U) Sevastiyanov told us that Arsenal Hunting Equipment used to import such firearms from Germany and Austria, but now wanted to purchase U.S.-made firearms. In 2007, he said, Arsenal Hunting Equipment sold approximately 100 such firearms, while other companies in Moscow sold hundreds more. ¶6. (U) Sevastiyanov told us they were familiar with the restrictions governing the import of USML commodities, and in particular the prohibition of unauthorized re-export. Post confirms the bona fides of Arsenal Hunting Equipment as a reliable end-user of USML items. RUSSELL