Photo courtesy Alrosa
Russian mining group Alrosa has voluntarily stepped down as vice-chair of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the global organization announced on March 3.
Last month, the company, which is the world’s top diamond miner by output, was among the institutions hit with sanctions from Canada, the U.S., and other nations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Alrosa says it stays committed to the RJC’s “highest standards of responsible business practices.”
“Like so many, we are deeply saddened by the geopolitical situation in connection with the Ukraine crisis,” says RJC chair, David Bouffard. “The RJC team will support our 1500 international members with guidance to comply to all applicable sanctions, together with the RJC COP requirements on due diligence within their supply chains. The RJC will continue to closely monitor the situation in accordance with international regulations and update its members with guidance as it evolves.”
Following the company’s departure from RJC, Alrosa suspended its membership in the National Diamond Council (NDC).
“We are confident Alrosa will continue to follow its outlined commitments to being a socially responsible business conducted according to the industry’s best practices and high standards,” says David Kellie, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council. “For dozens of years, Alrosa has been investing billions of dollars into building and supporting communities around its operations. We wish the company the quickest resolution of all the difficulties encountered.”
