Russia’s lower house of parliament approved sweeping restrictions targeting citizens living abroad who have been convicted in absentia, a measure rights lawyers say amounts to the “de facto deprivation of citizenship.”The State Duma passed the legislation in its second and third readings on Wednesday. The measures are set to take effect immediately upon official publication, without a transition period.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.According to Moscow Times, the legislation authorizes what the Kremlin calls “temporary restrictive measures” against Russian citizens who live outside the country, have been convicted under criminal, or selected administrative laws, and are deemed by the authorities to be “evading punishment.”The restrictions can be imposed on anyone convicted under any article of Russia’s Criminal Code.They also cover several administrative offenses frequently used to prosecute government critics, including violations of the country’s “foreign agent” rules, participation in an “undesirable organization,” calls for sanctions, alleged threats to Russia’s territorial integrity, and “discrediting” the armed forces.Many of those provisions have been introduced or expanded since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They have been used to prosecute journalists, activists, opposition figures, and ordinary Russians who publicly condemn the war.