Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW3475
2008-12-02 15:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #3475 3371520 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 021520Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0954 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003475
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER ETTC MASS MCAP RS PL GG
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
Classified By: Ambassador John R. Beyrle. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003475
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER ETTC MASS MCAP RS PL GG
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
Classified By: Ambassador John R. Beyrle. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On November 26 MFA DVBR First Secretary Andrey Odnoral
passed us a nonpaper and video that allege Polish-made
MANPADS were discovered in Itumkale, Chechnya. The video
showed a raid on a home in Itumkale which housed a weapons
cache, including small arms, ammunition, and MANPADS.
According to Odnoral, the GOR theorized that Poland sold
these MANPADS to Georgia and, during the August conflict,
Georgian soldiers abandoned these weapons, only to be
recovered by Chechen "bandits."
2. (C) Odnoral requested any information the USG has
regarding the illegal trafficking of MANPADS, noting that the
GOR has not raised this issue with the Polish or Georgian
governments. Odnoral sidestepped our questions on the
appropriateness of approaching the U.S. first on this issue.
3. (C) Russia will use the recovery of Polish-origin MANPADS
in Chechnya to underscore its original contention that the
arms sale to Georgia was destabilizing and to advance its
latest policy initiative on seeking an arms embargo against
Georgia. While we should insist that Russia raise this
recovery directly with Poland, the GOR will raise this
incident in our MANPADS dialogue and in any future discussion
over the resumption of non-lethal military equipment
assistance to Georgia. We are not in a position to judge
whether the aforementioned Chechen "bandits" were facilitated
by Chechen forces involved in the August conflict.
4. (SBU) Begin unofficial translation of nonpaper text:
In October 2008 in the Itum-Kalinsk region of the Chechen
Republic, which borders with Georgia, in the course of a
search operation conducted by Russian servicemen, a weapons
cache belonging to terrorist groups operating in the North
Caucasus region was found.
Among the weapons and ammunition in the bandit hide-out were
a Polish produced "GROM" launch tube with missile, without
the firing mechanism (production information:
62.0.0.0.000E2, 1060, 2107, GROM E2, E2-07-21, 1060, FILLED)
and a used launch tube from a similar system (production
information: 62.0.0.0.000E2, 1031, 2107, GROM E2, E2-07-21,
1031, FILLED). Video records of the removal of said
Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) are attached.
A MANPADS with analogous production information was removed
by Russian servicemen during peace and security restoration
operations in the Georgian-South Ossetia zone of conflict in
August of this year.
The presence of combat capable Polish "third-generation"
MANPADS in the hands of international terrorists raises
serious concerns and requires immediate action to discover
the means by which they are proliferated.
Taking into account the cooperation of Russia and the USA in
implementing the Russian-American intergovernmental agreement
on cooperation in the realm of strengthening control over
MANPADS, we would appreciate it if the American side could
present any materials it has at its disposal regarding the
illegal trafficking of MANPADS.
Translator's note: The GROM MANPAD is a Polish modification
of the Soviet 9K310 IGLA.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER ETTC MASS MCAP RS PL GG
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
Classified By: Ambassador John R. Beyrle. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On November 26 MFA DVBR First Secretary Andrey Odnoral
passed us a nonpaper and video that allege Polish-made
MANPADS were discovered in Itumkale, Chechnya. The video
showed a raid on a home in Itumkale which housed a weapons
cache, including small arms, ammunition, and MANPADS.
According to Odnoral, the GOR theorized that Poland sold
these MANPADS to Georgia and, during the August conflict,
Georgian soldiers abandoned these weapons, only to be
recovered by Chechen "bandits."
2. (C) Odnoral requested any information the USG has
regarding the illegal trafficking of MANPADS, noting that the
GOR has not raised this issue with the Polish or Georgian
governments. Odnoral sidestepped our questions on the
appropriateness of approaching the U.S. first on this issue.
3. (C) Russia will use the recovery of Polish-origin MANPADS
in Chechnya to underscore its original contention that the
arms sale to Georgia was destabilizing and to advance its
latest policy initiative on seeking an arms embargo against
Georgia. While we should insist that Russia raise this
recovery directly with Poland, the GOR will raise this
incident in our MANPADS dialogue and in any future discussion
over the resumption of non-lethal military equipment
assistance to Georgia. We are not in a position to judge
whether the aforementioned Chechen "bandits" were facilitated
by Chechen forces involved in the August conflict.
4. (SBU) Begin unofficial translation of nonpaper text:
In October 2008 in the Itum-Kalinsk region of the Chechen
Republic, which borders with Georgia, in the course of a
search operation conducted by Russian servicemen, a weapons
cache belonging to terrorist groups operating in the North
Caucasus region was found.
Among the weapons and ammunition in the bandit hide-out were
a Polish produced "GROM" launch tube with missile, without
the firing mechanism (production information:
62.0.0.0.000E2, 1060, 2107, GROM E2, E2-07-21, 1060, FILLED)
and a used launch tube from a similar system (production
information: 62.0.0.0.000E2, 1031, 2107, GROM E2, E2-07-21,
1031, FILLED). Video records of the removal of said
Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) are attached.
A MANPADS with analogous production information was removed
by Russian servicemen during peace and security restoration
operations in the Georgian-South Ossetia zone of conflict in
August of this year.
The presence of combat capable Polish "third-generation"
MANPADS in the hands of international terrorists raises
serious concerns and requires immediate action to discover
the means by which they are proliferated.
Taking into account the cooperation of Russia and the USA in
implementing the Russian-American intergovernmental agreement
on cooperation in the realm of strengthening control over
MANPADS, we would appreciate it if the American side could
present any materials it has at its disposal regarding the
illegal trafficking of MANPADS.
Translator's note: The GROM MANPAD is a Polish modification
of the Soviet 9K310 IGLA.
BEYRLE