I think the USSR had to work through its own folly before it could be helped.
Russia DOES have a Christian influence now, even though it is the Russian Orthodox church. That has kept it a lot more free, even with Putin’s new restrictions. Atheism really bit the USSR hard.
You'll find no argument from me, there.
As included within proof-of-concept test run, it miserably failed. Sour fruit (seriously dangerous to human health) mixed with whatever accomplishments under science and engineering etc., they were able to realize under that system (by hijacking technology from the West at many key junctures).
Setting aside Nature's God (as understood to be, and considered by the founders of the United States and author's of the original Constitution) leaves a yuuge void for authoritarian dictatorship.
Without hard check (built-in resistance) to totalitarianism, while lacking also sense of Liberty as intended by Nature's God, totalitarianism is among logically expected eventualities, the only real question being "how long will it take" to get there.