Would these be things you learned from the western press?
No they aren’t. Do you want us to take the state sponsored press from unfree countries as Russia and other countries are per the Freedom House rankings.
From personal experience living there and since I have been back (as of end of 2016) things have been heating up because approach of March elections. An increase in online dissent and organized protest activity especially among the youth has gotten Kremlin nervous. Not to mention protests are now taking place in provincial regions outside of Moscow/St. P, which is a new phenomenon.
The economy has been worst hit in the provinces...
With every new “election” the country gets more and more repressive and reverting back to its former Soviet/tsarist habits.
One of the sweetest people I know (young - aged 19) was inches away from beaten up by riot police simply for standing at an anti-corruption protest in Moscow back in June. Saw phone video. Another (young) innocent bystander received the blows instead.