The golden statue was supposed to be the centrepiece of a campaign launched in conjunction with a series of books and events to raise money for cancer research.
The Russian government aims to make more than 60 billion roubles ($909 million) from selling a 10.9 percent stake in Alrosa, with the sale taking place on the Moscow Exchange this year.
Diamond miners have found the remains of a Portuguese ship that disappeared on its way to India laden with gold and other treasure, almost 500 years ago.
The company operating the Diavik diamond mine says the denial of a change to its water licence could have an "immediate and materially-adverse impact" on the mine.