Which isn't to say that they're becoming more free...not as long as Putin's thugocracy continues to run things there.
True.
But given the trajectories our countries or on, it wouldn't surprise me if we eventually cross paths in this direction also (e.g., 'Intimidation of anyone who speaks against the anointed leaders'; Obama's 'internal police' force ... admittedly he probably was just blowing smoke -- but who knows to what delusions our homegrown marxists aspire).