Canada is imposing sanctions on nine high-ranking Russian officials in response to what the foreign ministry called gross and systematic human rights abuses - including the attempted assassination and subsequent jailing of popular opposition figure Alexey Navalny, writes CBC.CA.

In a statement released today, Global Affairs Canada says the sanctions are meant to highlight the “the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia and the shrinking space for civil society and independent voices there”.

The sanctioned individuals include two senior officials from the country’s defence ministry and the head of the FSB, Russia’s main security agency.

Two senior officials from President Vladimir Putin"s office are also on the list, along with the head of Russia"s penitentiary system and the country"s top prosecutor.