WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd August, 2018) New US sanctions against Russia over its alleged use of Novichok in the United Kingdom are expected to take effect on Wednesday.
On August 8, the US administration announced new sanctions against Russia in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons in the UK city of Salisbury. The measures are expected to take effect on or around August 22, with a second round of sanctions to be imposed three months later unless Russia agrees to chemical weapons inspections, according to the US State Department.
The first wave of action will be related to exports of sensitive national security material to Russia.
The United States will impose a second round of sanctions three months after the initial sanctions on August 22 if Washington cannot verify that Moscow has met the criteria under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act (CBW), a State Department official said, citing provisions in the act.
The official said the second batch includes sanctions that are "in general more draconian than the first round."
These sanctions may include downgrading or suspending diplomatic bilateral relations, suspending Aeroflot flights, prohibiting bank loans, and cutting off exports and imports between both countries, as well as other restrictions outlined in the act under Section 307(B).
The US government will waive sanctions related to space flight activities, however, because there are space flight actions in which the United States is engaged with the Russian Federation, according to the official.
The United States will also waive US foreign assistance to the Russian people, and items related to safety and commercial passenger aviation.
Russia can take action to stop the second round of sanctions from coming into force, although the State Department official acknowledged that Moscow would first have to meet "demanding" requirements, including one for intrusive inspections.
"They [the conditions] include � that Russia has provided reliable assurances that it will not in the future engage in such activities and also that Russia is willing to allow on-site inspections by United Nations observers or other internationally recognized impartial observers or other reliable means that exist to ensure the government is not using chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law," the official said.
If these and other conditions are not met, the second round of sanctions will go into effect three months after August 22.
The State Department official also claimed that the United States wants to maintain relations with Russia despite the new sanctions.
Moscow considers Washington's new anti-Russia sanctions introduced in connection with Russia's alleged involvement in the Salisbury attack to be unlawful and unacceptable, but the Kremlin is holding off its response in anticipation of Washington's official statements that would clarify the move.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia will respond to upcoming US sanctions with similar measures of its own.
She added that Russia made no secret of its plans to give a "mirror response," "instead of thinking of how to improve our relationship and steer it out of the deadlock."
The US government and its allies have blamed Russia for the March 4 chemical attack on double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. Russian authorities have strongly refuted the allegations as groundless, citing lack of evidence and Londons refusal to cooperate in a probe.
On March 4, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury. The United Kingdom and its allies have accused Moscow of having orchestrated the attack with what UK experts claim was the A234 nerve agent, without presenting any proof. Russian authorities have strongly refuted the allegations as groundless. Both Sergei and Yulia were later discharged from the hospital.
