Just consider it a little hyperbole directed at those who light candles to him every evening.
These are not western countries. They do not hold to western ideals. They have rich cultures, but also a very violent history. Nobody rising to the top in these countries is going to have clean hands. Putin may not be some kind of ideal, but he is far better to the people of Russia than 99% of his predecessors, and 99.99% of the people who would replace him. This is not “lighting candles”. This is just viewing the world as it is, not some fairy tale version of it.