Moscow/IBNS/UNI: The leaders of the G7 countries have pledged to impose sanctions on Russia in connection with the death of the country's opposition figure Alexei Navalny, according to a joint statement.

"We will hold those culpable for Navalny’s death accountable, including by continuing to impose restrictive measures in response to human rights violations and abuses in Russia and taking other actions," the statement said on Saturday.

Last Friday, Russia's penitentiary service said Navalny had died in prison, adding that the cause of death was being investigated.

In January 2021, Navalny was arrested in Moscow upon arrival from Germany, where he had been receiving medical treatment for alleged poisoning in Russia.

In February of that year, a court revoked his suspended sentence in the 2014 Yves Rocher fraud case for multiple probation violations and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison.

In August 2023, Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges.

At the time, 47-year-old Navalny was already serving several sentences for fraud, embezzlement, contempt of court, and violation of probation. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.