Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations have called on Russian authorities to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

On Saturday, the top diplomats met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

They observed a minute of silence at the start of the meeting to pay their respects to Navalny, who was one of President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critics.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting, issued a statement.

It said the ministers expressed their outrage about Navalny's death. The opposition leader was being held at an Arctic prison colony.

The ministers urged Russia to stop its "unacceptable persecution of political dissent, as well as systematic repression of freedom of expression and unduly intimidation of civil rights."

They reaffirmed their unwavering resolve to continue to support Ukraine. The ministers also confirmed that they are "fast progressing with Ukraine on specific, bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements."