>> in russia normally people dip your bread into this canned -- like this. >> this was normal for you growing up? >> yeah. i wouldn't drink booze until probably 22. but i'll show you how it worked. >> so who decided who moved into these places? >> those who were in charge of the specific communal services and residential department would assign x amount to this plan, to that plan. >> you got to choose your neighbors though? no. >> in the soviet union and the present-day russia there's never been a reason to create infrastructure to make people's lives better. no one really cared about the people and they should have decent toilet or shower. >> so how's it going lately? better? worse? >> so vladimir putin changed the whole landscaping in the country. first of all, he started to clamp down on the human rights, on the democratic rights. the most recent laws and changes