In response to the tragic demise of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the United Kingdom has taken decisive action by freezing the assets of six Russian prison leaders overseeing the Arctic penal colony where Navalny met his untimely end, BBC reported.
The sanctioned officials, including Col Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, head of the penal colony, and others in key positions, will face asset freezes and a travel ban to the UK.
Attributing Navalny’s death to the Russian authorities, including President Putin, Western leaders are demanding accountability.
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron emphasised, “Those responsible for Navalny’s brutal treatment should be under no illusion – we will hold them accountable.”
Furthermore, the British government is urging the immediate release of Navalny’s body to his family and advocating for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The UK’s stance aligns with Navalny’s mother’s plea, who, on Tuesday, expressed her struggles to locate her son and called for a transparent inquiry.
The move signifies a strong international response against the alleged misconduct in the Russian penal system.