Russian aluminium giant cut out of Queensland operation to abide by sanctions, Rio Tinto says

Mining company alleges arrangement with Rusal subsidiary would have benefited Putin allies Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg

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Rio Tinto says it would have breached sanctions and illegally increased the wealth of two Russian oligarchs if it had not taken the dramatic step of cutting a Russian corporate giant out of a major Queensland alumina operation.

The Australian government's sanctions against Russian billionaires Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, both allies of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, prompted a swift response from the Australian mining giant earlier this year.

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