About punk rock - it was a joke, yes, but in general I was not sarcastic - I think if those crazy attention whores played in Sheikh Zayed Mosque, dissing local leaders, they would be mutilated and beheaded, if not by the government, then by local people. Or imagine them in the Washington Nation Cathedral, DC, singing "Obama is a commie and sucks big jew dong" or something like that. Or even Better is some Texas protestant Church. I'd say those gals got off pretty easily. Earning money in process, I must add.
Russia has plenty of independent news sources, lots of criticism of current ruling party and leaders. That first wikipedia link you gave - it mentions multiple improvements over years, public trust growing in general, some protection laws offered to journalists and so on. For years Russia has been viewed upon as a big scary bear, while in fact it is the same as all the other governments in the world more or less. I believe CIA can take any less prominent journalist in for a talk, to zap his balls with electrodes, and later acquire a backhand court order.
In the freedom of the press USA has pretty interesting figures. UK is slightly better. Cameras and taps everywhere, taking away journalists belongings as a "security measure".
General rule - you may speak and write about anything you want in a civilized country. As long as you stay away from big corruptions, hidden money, anything what makes your local government officials involved interested enough in snuffing out your life. Be that in Russia, Britain, France or USA or whatever.
Local government officials will not "snuff out your life" in the US, France, or UK. In Russia they will. How often do you hear about journalists being killed in the UK, US, or France? Rarely if ever. Russia is known as one of the most dangerous places on the planet for journalists.
A country that declares war on gays and has laws against "blasphemy" is nowhere near free. That sounds exactly like the Soviet Union.
Also, have you been to Russia? I haven't been there but I have family who used to live there (both in the USSR and Federation) and they said that it was more or less the same when the USSR "collapsed".
I live in neighboring country. 99% of journalists deaths are one way or another linked to Chechen mafia and other "southern towelhead elements", Grozny, Makhachkala, you name it. There are only 2 loud cases, one of them being death of Politkovskaya and she was all about chechens too. A lot has changed in the coming years.
About blasphemy - you can view it like a anti-racist law. It would keep certain elements from hooliganism, making them aware of possible punishment and thus preventing mass butthurt of the religious people( like in pussy riot case, they could pick a better place, and they could even sanction their own protest within government), which are a majority in Russia. UK had blasphemy law untill 2008. USA is much better in this case, you can diss any religion you like, and as an atheist myself I like that a lot.
And war on gays - it's a cultural thing. Homophobia is what people want, and state provides certain laws to appeal to those people, to the majority. I personally support that law, it is aimed against gay propaganda to minors, not against gays themselves. One can hump his buddy in the ass all day long, but he cannot tell kids around how good or better it possibly feels. If country wants to be that way, it is it's right to be so. If you are a gay, and are largely outspoken, like showing your preference during demonstrations - then you must change your ways, or find a more gay friendly country to live in.
All that criticism lately is ridiculous. Americas big strategic oily partner - United Arab Emirates has laws against gays, by which they must be (and regularly are) deported, fined, treated hormonally, CHEMICALLY CASTRATED, and even killed. I do not hear any criticism towards Emirates lately.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates