EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SPECIAL

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000656 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/JHATFIELD USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SPECIAL PURPOSE MILITIA UNIT, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D390850 REFTEL: USDOC 00818 ¶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, Special Purpose Militia Unit, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application D390850 as the ultimate consignee of two thermal imagers. These items are controlled for national security and nuclear non-proliferation reasons under ECCN 6A003. The licensee is L3 Communications Infrared Products, 13532 N.Central Expressway MS37, Dallas, TX 75243. ¶3. On March 6, 2008, Export Control Attache Peter Liston and LES Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the offices of Special Purpose Militia Unit, 3rd Kolobovsky side st, 16, Moscow, Russia. The export control team met with Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander. ¶4. Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander of the Special Purpose Militia Unit, SPETSNAZ, stated that the unit was established on November 9, 1978, in preparation for securing site for the upcoming Olympic games. The special unit was never disbanded and has become an important operational arm of the Russian Ministry of Interior's special operations tactics, being used for everything from surveillance to executing search warrants and effecting arrests. ¶5. The Export Control Team Moscow believes that the items in reftel are items commonly used by special operations units within law enforcement worldwide. Alexander Orlov, Deputy Commander of SPETSNAZ stated that his unit has trained with similar items and is familiar with its uses. Orlov indicated that he understands the end-use requirements stated with the license. ¶6. Recommendations: Post recommends Special Purpose Militia Unit, Moscow, Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive U.S. origin commodities. 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/MOGRADY/PLISTON) BURNS