Canada announced new sanctions against Russian officials on Sunday over “gross and systematic human rights violations” by Russia following the death of Alexei Navalny.
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Six senior law enforcement, justice and corrections officials and senior staff are the subject of this new series of Canadian sanctions.
In a statement, Ottawa noted that these officials “were complicit in the violation of Mr. Navalny's human rights, in his cruel punishment and ultimately in his death.”
“Together with our partners, Canada will maintain pressure on the Russian government to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the death of Mr. Navalny,” Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said.
Following the death of Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, Justin Trudeau's government summoned the Russian ambassador to Canada to demand “a full and transparent investigation” into his death.
The Russian opponent died on February 16 under unclear circumstances in a penal colony in the Arctic, where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence for “extremism.” He was 47 years old.
His family, relatives and many Western leaders have accused the Kremlin ruler of being “responsible” for his “murder,” which the Kremlin vigorously denies.
The Russian president, who in recent days warned the West of a “real threat” of nuclear war in the event of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, has still not commented on the death of his main opponent, whom he never says by name.