MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. G7 restrictions on diamonds have the goal of weakening and completely substituting then the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev said on the verge of the plenary session of the Kimberley Process.

"G7 restrictions, introduction of additional checks in respect of stones of non-Russian origin and attempts to involve leading diamond industry players in their implementation have the goal of weakening and then fully replacing the Kimberley Process certification scheme by the unilateral 'G7 certification,' where the industry is completely deprived of its identity," the official said, cited by the ministry’s press service.

"This will inflict enormous damage to diamond mining and cutting countries and local communities, hit the most vulnerable population strata and provoke social unrest," Moiseev stressed.