US National Security Adviser Samuel R. Berger announced recently that three Russian research institutions have been added to the "denied entity" list maintained by the US Bureau of Export Administration. The Moscow Aviation Institute, Mendeleyev University and NIKIET, or the Scientific Research and Design Institute of Power Technology, were cited for providing sensitive missile or nuclear assistance to Iran.
According to Berger, the economic crisis in Russia is heightening the country's challenge to "control the leakage of sensitive weapons-related materials and technology beyond its borders. Weapons scientists and institutes face increased financial pressures to sell their wares to whomever is in the market, including rogue states."
The announcement marks another in the continuing series of export control changes that affect photonics manufacturing and exporting companies. Officials at the Bureau of Export Administration advise companies that want to export to these institutions to contact the bureau's Export Assistance Office at (202) 482-4811 for guidance.