VZCZCXYZ0491
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #0656 0671250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071250Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7067
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC

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