If you think Russia is still a “commie” country you are a special kind of stupid. The world has changed in the last 25 years. Perhaps you hadn’t noticed.
Nor can anyone in good conscience call Washington the center of the free world, if one exists anymore.
Russia is not exactly “free” either.
The mass media is state controlled and opposition leaders have a tendency to get radioactive poisoning or suddenly die or get thrown into prison.
It might be going in the right direction but its not there yet