The company is also suspending its membership and halting financial support of the Natural Diamond Council.
Alrosa is pulling back from two major industry organizations as the Russian assault on Ukraine continues, severely limiting its ability to market and sell diamonds worldwide.
The Responsible Jewellery Council announced via its website Friday [March 4] that Alrosa has voluntarily stepped down as vice chair of RJC, temporarily leaving the board of directors.
“Like so many, we are deeply saddened by the geopolitical situation in connection with the Ukraine crisis,” RJC Chair David Bouffard said.
“The RJC team will support our 1,500 international members with guidance to comply to all applicable sanctions, together with the RJC code of practices 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.”
Alrosa, which has said little publicly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine about two weeks ago, communicated its resignation to the board during a meeting on March 3.
However, the company is still listed as an RJC member on the organization’s website. Its current certification is valid until December 2023.
RJC declined to comment beyond what was provided in its online statement about Alrosa.
Also on Friday [March 4], Alrosa and the Natural Diamond Council issued separate statements announcing the diamond miner is suspending its NDC membership and halting all financial contributions to the organization.
