Canada sanctions 6 more Russians over Alexei Navalny’s death

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has declared another round of sanctions against the Russian government.

The move comes as a response to the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and what Joly describes as Russia's "continued gross and systematic violations of human rights", Caliber.Az reports, citing the Canada-based news service CBC.

In a recent statement, Joly detailed that these measures target six senior Russian officials and high-ranking employees of its prosecution, judicial, and correctional services. The sanctions are specifically directed at those involved in the violation of Navalny's "human rights, his cruel punishment, and ultimately, his death."

Navalny, 47, was widely recognized as Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent political opponent. During a visit to Ukraine late last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Putin of "executing" Navalny, who unexpectedly passed away a week earlier in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence.

The Kremlin has vehemently denied any involvement in Navalny's death, dismissing the allegations as "absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state."

Joly emphasized the need for Russia to conduct a full and transparent inquiry into Navalny's death, referring to him as "a voice of hope for the Russian people, as well as a voice for freedom, justice, democracy, and a better future for Russia."

This announcement follows Canada's imposition of sanctions on February 23 against an additional 10 Russian officials and businessmen, along with 153 entities, in coordination with the United States and the United Kingdom.