The West wanted to hit Russia hard with harsh sanctions. But the loopholes are now more numerous than ever – also due to powerful interests.
The entrance to the maze of Russia sanctions is on the first floor of a traditional jewelry store on Hamburg’s Neuer Wall. A young lady invites you to a small table and spreads out diamond rings on a black velvet cushion. Would it be a solitaire in yellow gold with a one-carat diamond for 13,395 euros? Or would you prefer something in white gold with a 0.75 carat stone for 6,625 euros? The seller reveals that both diamonds sparkle in the color “fine white” (technical jargon “G”) and only have “small inclusions” (“SI1” according to the rules of the diamond trade). She answers all of the customer’s questions charmingly and knowledgeably. Only at one point does it falter.
Source: Stern
