TOKYO, March 15 (Reuters) - Japan has decided to freeze assets of an additional 17 Russian individuals, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

Eleven members of the Russian Duma, five family members of banker Yuri Kovalchuk, as well as billionaire Viktor Vekselberg were targeted in the sanctions, it said.

The move brings the total number of Russians targeted by Japan's asset freezes in response to the Ukraine crisis to 61, the ministry said in a statement.