Canada鈥檚 foreign affairs minister has announced another round of sanctions against the Russian government, which she says are in response to last month鈥檚 death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Russia鈥檚 鈥渃ontinued gross and systematic violations of human rights.鈥�

M茅lanie Joly announced the sanctions in a statement released early Sunday morning, which says the measures will be imposed on six Russian senior officials and high-ranking employees of its prosecution, judicial and correctional services. The statement says they were involved in the violation of Navalny鈥檚 鈥渉uman rights, his cruel punishment and ultimately, his death.

鈥淣avalny, 47, was roundly considered Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 greatest political foe.

During a visit to Ukraine late last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Putin of 鈥渆xecuting鈥� Navalny, who died unexpectedly a week earlier in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence.

The Kremlin has rejected allegations that Putin was involved in Navalny鈥檚 death, calling them 鈥渁bsolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.鈥�

Joly says Russia must conduct a full and transparent inquiry into the death of Navalny, whom she called 鈥渁 voice of hope for the Russian people, as well as a voice for freedom, justice, democracy and a better future for Russia.鈥�

Canada announced sanctions on Feb. 23 against 10 more Russian officials and businessmen and 153 entities, in co-ordination with the United States and the United Kingdom.

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The Canadian Press