US sanctions on Russia over poisoned ex-spy to take effect on August 27

US Federal Register said on Friday that the US sanctions on Russia over the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy will take effect on August 27.

According to a notice published on the website of Federal Register, a daily catalogue of actions and regulations at government agencies, the State Department planned to announce the sanctioning measures by then, which will terminate US foreign assistance and some arms sales and financing to Russia.

The US side will target "foreign assistance, the licensing of defense articles and services, and the licensing of national security-sensitive goods and technology" concerning Russia, according to the notice.

Russia's credit will also be denied, and US export of security-sensitive goods and technology to Russia will also be prohibited.

However, government space cooperation, commercial space launches and areas covering commercial aviation safety would be exempted from the sanctions. The notice explained that these areas are "essential to the national security interests of the United States" and shall be issued on a case-by-case basis.

Sanctions will also be waived in cases of deemed exports/reexports, wholly owned US subsidiaries, commercial end users, Russian state-owned or state-funded enterprises, and US urgent humanitarian assistance to Russia.

Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, aged 66, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in Britain's southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain claimed the pair was exposed to a nerve agent and holds Russia responsible, while the Russian government has denied any involvement in it.

The US State Department said on August 8 that the country will impose new sanctions on Russia over the case.

"These sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around August 22, 2018," said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.