Picture: ANP
G7 leaders, assembly in Japan, are contemplating new sanctions towards Russia. It’s mentioned how the commerce in diamonds may be restricted. This commerce generates billions of {dollars} for Russia yearly. An settlement on the restrictions by the seven wealthy industrial international locations just isn’t anticipated.
A analysis group affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise calculated that in 2021 Russia will nonetheless be exporting almost $5 billion price of diamonds. For instance, the Russian group Alrosa is named the biggest producer of tough diamonds on the planet. The primary importers of those diamonds are the United Arab Emirates, India and Belgium.
For the reason that outbreak of warfare in Ukraine, there was discuss of restrictions on the Russian diamond commerce. For instance, Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky already addressed Belgium immediately in March final yr. 1 / 4 of the diamonds offered within the Antwerp diamond middle are of Russian origin. A commerce involving many tons of of thousands and thousands. “That revenue is seemingly rather more essential than the battle we’re preventing,” Zelensky sneered in a video speech within the Belgian parliament on the finish of March 2022.
Within the European Union, voices have beforehand been heard to limit the import of diamonds from Russia with the intention to punish the nation for the warfare. These sounds have been additionally heard within the Home of Representatives. In a debate in February, a number of events argued for the inclusion of diamonds on the sanctions listing.
