Australia sanctions three Russian prison officials linked to Alexei Navalny death as Vladimir Putin issues threat of nuclear war

Australia has imposed additional financial sanctions and travel bans on three Russian prison officials linked to the death of Alexei Navalny.

The announcement comes after the government sanctioned seven individuals involved in the mistreatment of the Russian opposition leader, who died while serving a 30-year prison sentence in a remote Arctic penal colony on February 16.

Mr Navalny was an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A funeral for the 47-year-old will take place in Moscow on Friday.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Navalny’s family and his supporters in Russia and across the world as they mourn him at his funeral later today,” Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Marles said in a statement.

“We recognise the work of all in Russia who promote democracy and human rights.

“Australia holds President Putin and the Russian government responsible for Mr Navalny’s treatment and death in prison.”

It comes after Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatened NATO allies with the prospect of nuclear war if it sent troops to Ukraine.

In his annual address to Russia’s parliament, Mr Putin said the West was bent on weakening Moscow and said it must realise “we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory”.

“All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don’t they get that?” he said.

Mr Putin angled his threat around comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who earlier this week suggested that Western NATO members should send troops to assist Ukraine – an idea quickly rejected by the US and Britain.

His warnings come after the Albanese government announced a further $50m grant to the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine.

This brought Australia’s total overall support to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country to $960m, including $780m in military aid.