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

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000031 SIPDIS 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 APPLICATION 05-050075752 REF: STATE 163875 ¶1. (U) Reftel requested a pre-license end-use check to confirm the bona fides of Okhotnik I Rybolov, the foreign end-user and the foreign consignee listed on application 05-050075752. The commodities in question are 32 HS Precision Pro 2000 Bolt Action Rifles, Caliber .300-146 valued at USD 73,600.00. ¶2. (U) On December 28, we visited the headquarters of Okhotnik I Rybolov located at Novopodmoskovny Pereulok 4/1, 125130 Moscow, Russia. The team met with Vladimir Shchigorets, one of two owners of the company, and the company's General Director Mikhail Andreyev. ¶3. (U) Okhotnik I Rybolov has supporting documentation for the transaction, including licenses for importation and resale of the weapons. ¶4. (U) Okhotnik I Rybolov has a license to sell its products only from its store, Zveroboy Gun and Rifle Shop, located at ulitsa Mikluho-Maklaya 18/1, 117437 Moscow, Russia. It sells primarily to private customers living in the Moscow region, but also has the proper license needed to sell to its goods to stores in all regions of the Russian Federation. The specific end-use of the rifles mentioned in Case 05-050075752 is retail sale. ¶5. (U) Okhotnik I Rybolov was established in 2004, and has been importing and selling weapons since that time. It is 100 percent owned by Andrey Bredikhin and Vladimir Shchigorets, both citizens of the Russian Federation. ¶6. (U) Okhotnik I Rybolov keeps proper records of all transactions and stores them in secure locations. ¶7. (U) Okhotnik I Rybolov is aware of all restrictions and regulations on the U.S. Munitions List and other export control prohibitions. ¶8. (U) Prior to resale, Okhotnik I Rybolov stores its weapons in vaults located in the store. The vaults are located behind a locked door and a metal cage. Display cases are behind bullet-proof glass. The retail area of the store and the vaults are monitored 24 hours per day by video cameras. The premises also have alarm systems connected to the local police department. The local police respond to alarms within three to five minutes. (Note: The local police department is fined if it does not respond to an alarm at the Zveroboy Gun and Rifle Shop within five minutes.) ¶9. (U) Post confirms the bona fides of Okhotnik I Rybolov as a reliable end-user and foreign consignee of the rifles as mentioned in Case 05-050075752. RUSSELL