The European Union plans to ban trade in Russian diamonds as part of the 12th package of sanctions. However, these plans do not include Belarus, where one of the largest diamond processing companies exists. Excluding Belarus from these sanctions means enabling more circumventions.
The Belarusian democratic opposition said if Belarus is also not sanctioned, there is a risk of limited success. Additionally, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko will increase its revenues.
The large diamond processing plant Kristall in Gomel, the second largest city of Belarus, is the leading manufacturer of jewellery and diamond products. A state-owned company is a valuable source of income for the regime.
The plant was established in 1972 in the Soviet Union. Kristall was one of the seven plants of the same name. However, after the collapse of the USSR, only two plants remained open, one in Gomel and the other in Russia. Kristall buys raw materials mainly in Russia.
On 17 November, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the plant, praising its production and assuring that its diamond processing and jewellery production in Belarus should be better than elsewhere.
Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), warned that “implementing sanctions solely against Russia while bypassing the Lukashenko regime leads to ineffective sanctions that can be easily circumvented”.
In a statement, Mr. Latushka said, “Both regimes have anticipated the potential impact of upcoming sanctions on Russian diamonds. However, if sanctions are not imposed on the Lukashenko regime in a manner similar to those imposed on Russian diamonds, and if the regimes’ plans come to fruition – much of which depends on our partners in the EU and the USA, Lukashenko and his affluent family in Belarus will gain additional sources of illicit profits through the resale of ‘blood diamonds'”.
“Any sanctions as well as any actions taken against aggressive Russia must be introduced and monitored in a harmonised, synchronous and simultaneous manner against the Lukashenko regime. Only such coordinated and calibrated actions will contribute to the restoration of peace, the establishment of law and order and the downfall of the two regimes that inflict immense suffering and hardship upon millions of people,” the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet added.
