Putin doesn't support Communism but he understands its corrosive nature from first hand experience. In fact he's been a supporter of free market capitalism for a long time (despite the klepto-capitalist origins of Russia's current system), and has made several significant speeches to that effect on the international stage.
His rhetoric on economics is largely overlooked by the political and chattering classes in the United States, primarily because Putin accurately and unflinchingly lays the blame for the 2008 world financial crisis at the feet of the corrupt and broken American banking/political system, of which "leaders" like McCain and Obama are a mediocre byproduct.
Yes, there is something very special about being a former communist KGB thug that gives one unique insights into the commie system and the capitalist one. As an apologia for President for Life Putin, yours is unique.