I think it would be easy to interpret my recent pictures of CCCP branding as playful enjoyment of the country's history and an attempt to not be so serious about everything.

And that's a reasonable interpretation. But behind the pictures, there are important changes taking place here that are more disturbing. Let's look at a few new laws that have come into effect just since I've been here.

1. The city of Saint Petersburg adopted a law which criminalizes "propaganda" regarding homosexuality. In Russian, "propaganda" doesn't have the same insidious connotation that it does in English; it basically means "public discussion." The new law makes it illegal to do anything other than condemn homosexuality when you are in the presence of underaged children. In other words, saying that a gay person is equal to a straight person will get you arrested.

The law has been tested already by a person standing in front of a legislative building wearing a sign saying "gay = normal." The police scooped him up and put him in jail. More frightening, just a few days later there was a gathering of a few dozen people (no children around). They were going to release white balloons in protest of Putin and of the new anti-gay law. A bunch of soccer hooligans (that's how they are often described in the press) showed up and started beating people up. The pro-equality supporters scattered quickly so the hooligans descended on a bus which was full of immigrant workers rather than the hated Homosexuals. The youths broke in the windows of the bus and beat the crap out of the immigrants who, of course, didn't have enough Russian to explain the confusion.

The police stand by during all of this. They have no problem arresting gays and lesbians, but when it comes to the hooligans, they say, "we aren't going to put ourselves in harm's way." They say that they'll arrest the aggressors, but somehow they always slip away. It's widely accepted that this is the government's tacit way of condoning/encouraging the attacks.

Although the anti gay law is only in effect in Petersburg, it's expected to go nationwide. Oh, and there are plans to arrest Madonna in August if she makes any pro-equality statements during her concert. There is also a plan to arrest President Obama if he comes here because he has taken a pro-equality stance. Good luck with that.

2. A few weeks ago, a nearby city put into effect a measure forbidding foreigners from living in dormitories near children's schools. Russia has a long history of xenophobia and the new law is surprising only in that it codifies what many Russians already feel. The measure specifically targets Africans because, as the article confirms, they can't help themselves from raping and dealing drugs.

It think it's so interesting that, as with the anti-equality law, this one relies on ginning up fear of underage children being harmed. Perish the thought that children should see happy families or the effects of black people on children.

I'm guessing The Help wasn't a box office smash here.

3. In Moscow, the legislature has passed a measure outlawing gay pride events for the next 100 years.

That's a lot of foresight for a country that's just now 20 years old (and whose predecessor barely made it to 70). In any event, given the country's negative population growth, there isn't likely to be much more than a few splashes from the current gene pool around for Pride 2112.

4. Finally, something that the whole country can enjoy. Putin just signed a law drastically limiting the rights of citizens to assemble without a permit from the government. Now, any group of any size that the government deems "assembly" can be arrested and fined $10,000 each (slightly less if you're only a participant in the assembly).

Any assembly has to receive government permission beforehand. Last week there was a permitted anit-Putin parade on the same day as Russia Day. The parade was going fine until the police stopped the event 100 meters before the finish and arrested the leaders for going 10 minutes over the permitted time.   "Leaders" and "participants" are defined by the police at the time of arrest, regardless of what the official permit says.

In theory the new law applies to churchgoers and sports fans just as it applies to anti-Putin and equal rights gatherings, but Putin the Terrible isn't about to start fining his base, so only his political enemies are being subjected to the new law.

Still, I am optimistic about Russia's future. Unlike the Soviet Union, information moves fairly freely here and citizens can travel abroad. People I've talked to here are well connected to alternative (non-government) press and are as disturbed about what Putin is doing as many in the West are. No one is expecting another revolution, but they also aren't expecting Putin to make it past his current term as president.

It will be interesting to see over the next few years how things change. As we say in Russian вскрытие покажет (the autopsy will tell us what we want to know).