First of all the RF is not totalitarian, Putin can't just do whatever he likes. Agreed, and by "neototalitarian" I mean something distinctly different from tot

First of all the RF is not totalitarian, Putin can't just do whatever he likes. Agreed, and by "neototalitarian" I mean something distinctly different from totalitarianism in the classical sense. It's a fuzzy term, but basically it refers to a system that attempts to maintain centralized control not, primarily, through "sledgehammer"-style coercion of classically totalitarian systems but more so through ideological and psychological means (accompanied by occasional, "surgical" acts of coercion). So it is very much key to Putin's staying power that he has an astute sense for what the popular "psyche" really wants, and for the language they want to hear. And that he definitely could not have come to the position he's in through traditional "strongman" tactics alone. I'd like to know when in the history of the RF, the USSR or the Russian Empire the society was more free than today? As far as I remember it has always been a Monarchy, a dictatorship or total chaos with Mafia ruling the streets and even the government. Post-USSR, my general understanding was that (mafia chaos aside) the 90s were comparatively a far looser time; certainly very difficult (and sometimes quite hazardous) -- but, by and large, you could still believe that Russia was at least potentially on its way to becoming a normal country. And things started to darken, and tighten gradually with Putin's first term (the various terror incidents, and the second phase of the Chechen War being major turning points); and with his third term (and finally with the intervention in Ukraine), quite precipitously so. During Soviet times, there were also periods of comparative openness (the mid 60s and early 70s being an almost golden time, to those who remember it). Yes, things were tightly controlled, but you didn't have the feeling that the state was as thoroughly corrupt as one does today; the country was certainly better off economically than it every had been; and there was an overall feeling of optimism. As opposed to the overriding sense of pessimism felt by many on the dissenting side, today.