Members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPSC) delegation visited Russia from 5 to 12 April to assess the country's compliance with its minimum requirements.
“The result of the review visit is that Russia fully complies with the requirements of the KPSC. And also has experience and skills that can be used by other countries as best practices,” said Evgeniy Sidin, Deputy Director of the Department of State Regulation of the Precious Metals and Gems Industry.
In total, 22 delegates from countries such as Angola, Belarus, Cameroon, India, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Venezuela and Zimbabwe visited Russia. Representatives of the World Diamond Council (WDC) also took part in the review.
Ezekiel Mafara, Head of Sales, National Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, was the acting team leader of the delegation.
During the review, the delegates visited the Ministry of Finance of Russia as the body responsible for determining state policy on the implementation of the minimum requirements of the KPSC; oversaw the ALROSA diamond mine in Yakutia; and paid a visit to a specialized post of the Central Excise Customs, where state and customs control over the import and export of rough diamonds is carried out.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
