Your distinction has no value. Imagining you know what the Russian people are does not make it true.
In reality, Putin is the face of Russia.
In reality, Russia has always been a land rule by autocrats.
It has never been a republic based on democratic elections.
Expecting it to be such is folly.
He is almost as well known as Pussy Riot
Pussy Riot is just as Russian as Putin. Pussy Riot is Russian as Apple Pie is American LoL.
Bolshevik crazies!
I do not know what for a government Russia of the future will forge...I am just saying that the Putin set-up in its current form will crumble sooner than we may realize.