The British government on Wednesday froze the assets of six Russian prison bosses who were in charge of the Arctic penal colony where opposition leader and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, died.

The government also imposed a travel ban on them.

"A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971," read a statement issued by the British government.

"The sanctioned individuals include Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, who oversaw the brutal prison camp where Navalny was kept in solitary confinement for up to 2 weeks at a time. Navalny’s condition had deteriorated in his 3 years in prison. Navalny suffered from being denied medical treatment, as well as having to walk in –32C weather while being held in the prison," the statement said.

The UK is the first country to impose sanctions in response to the death of Navalny.

The government asked Russian authorities to immediately release Navalny's body to family members.

The six people against whom the British government imposed sanctions:

Colonel Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin: Head of IK-3 Arctic Penal Colony ‘Polar Wolf’

Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Nikolaevich Korzhov: Deputy Head

Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Alexandrovich Vydrin: Deputy Head

Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipchik: Deputy Head

Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Vladimirovich Golyakov: Deputy Head

Colonel Aleksandr Valerievich Obraztsov: Deputy Head

David Cameron says no-one should doubt the oppressive nature of the Russian system

UK Foreign Secretary Cameron said: "That’s why we’re today sanctioning the most senior prison officials responsible for his custody in the penal colony where he spent his final months. Those responsible for Navalny’s brutal treatment should be under no illusion - we will hold them accountable."

What do we know about Navalny's death?

Alexei Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic prison on Friday (February 16, 2024).

He was serving a 19-year term.

Alexei Navalny felt unwell in prison after a walk and lost consciousness. He received all necessary resuscitation measures, but they did not yield positive results, the Federal Ptnitentiary Service stated as quoted by Russia's Sputnik news agency.

President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue since his death was announced.

Several world leaders, including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, have slammed Putin over the politician's death.

Kremlin's reaction to comments made by western leaders on Navalny's death

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the comments made by Western leaders against Navalny's death as 'boorish'.

"In conditions where there is no information, we consider it absolutely inadmissible to make such, let's say, frankly boorish statements," the spokesman was quoted as saying by TASS.

"This is inappropriate for statesmen from whose mouths we have heard such statements. And these statements, of course, cannot harm the head of our state, but they absolutely do not benefit those who make such statements," he said.