Putin is reflecting the values of the people. It is indeed interesting to think that Russia is now morally superior to America, but there you go. The Russians are slowly shaking off the shackles of communism while Americans have elected (and re-elected!) an African communist as it's leader. ..And down the toilet we swirl.
Communist Russia treated homosexuality as a crime as well.
I wouldn't be too sure of that yet. Unless they have a constitution that places God and Natural Law above the state, as we used to have, all this could change with the political winds. To quote Ronald Reagan, "trust, but verify."