Russian lawmakers have passed the third reading of a controversial bill designed to create a fully autonomous local internet.

Dismissing criticism that the bill represented pulling the plug on the global internet, over two-thirds of deputies voted in favour in the Tuesday morning vote. The bill now passes to its next, largely pro forma stages – discussion in the upper house (on 22 April) and then presidential approval (soon thereafter).

Officially described as a bill to enable the “reliable” functioning of the Russian internet in the case of an “attack” from abroad, the new law is seen by some as a first stage towards creating a Chinese-style firewall.

The measures introduced legislate to divert Russian internet traffic through pre-approved exchange points and to force ISPs to install new network equipment with the aim of restricting anonymity. The law would also build up a parallel domain name system to allow the Russian internet to function independently in the event it is cut off.

The legislation comes against the backdrop of a downtick in President Putin’s personal ratings amid five years of economic stagnation.

Technology comes to Bhutan Show all 19 1 /19 Technology comes to Bhutan Technology comes to Bhutan A youth drinks whiskey at a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, performs in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancers Ugyen Tshomo, 29, and Lhaden (R), 38, relax before going to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Men play snooker and gamble in a snooker hall in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, prepares to leave her house and go to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Smoke billows from machinery at a road construction site near the town of Punakha, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, checks her mobile phone as she rests at home in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths sit outside a restaurant in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths play football near a highway in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A tourist bus makes its way along the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Women share a joke in a Karaoke bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A man walks past a housing construction site in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Buddhist monks play football in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Sonam Tshering, 13, feeds cattle in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. "I would love to become a science teacher and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play for Real Madrid," said Sonam. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Houses stand in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan An electric heater and television sit in the corner of a traditional farmhouse in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Zeko, 73, poses for a portrait at his home in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. "I'm happy to have a mobile phone so I can talk to my relatives and children any time I want," Zeko said. Reuters

Since coming to power in August 1999, the Russian president has overseen a steady increase in censorship, starting with television, before moving to mainstream print media, and now the internet.

But while few doubt the Kremlin’s intentions to introduce even more control over what Russians can and can’t see, there are some questions over whether they have the technical capacity to implement the measures.

Last year, authorities attempted to ban the Telegram app. Embarrassingly, the messenger service was able to circumvent their efforts by hiding behind other servers. For many days, vast parts of the Russian internet were blocked off as the state engaged in a virtual – and ultimately unsuccessful – game of cat and mouse.