Russia’s lower house of Parliament yesterday approved a controversial Bill that brands NGOs receiving funding from abroad as “foreign agents”, as law activists fear the Kremlin will use to target critics.

The legislation, condemned by both the EU and Washington, was passed by the State Duma with 374 votes in favour, three against and one abstention in the third and final reading – just minutes after the second reading also sailed through. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that breach the law and fail to join the “foreign agents” register would be punishable by fines of up to 300,000 rubles (7,350) or even two years of prison for members.

The deputies also passed another controversial law making libel or slander a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to five million rubles (124,168), voting 238 in favour to 91 against.

Both Bills are almost certain to be approved by the upper house before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, who last year accused the US State Department of funding protests against him.

The Bills are seen by many analysts as setting up a legal infrastructure for a crackdown on the opposition.

Critics have argued that the term “foreign agent” implies spying for a foreign government and would harm the image of many human rights and environmental groups working in Russia.

The final two readings of the hugely contentious NGO Bill were rushed through the largely pro-Putin chamber on the final day of its spring-summer session, despite protests from both Russian and Western rights groups.