[GSlob]

Civilization is sociology. Orthodox civ in this regard is an intrinsically despotic civilization, and belongs squarely with islamic and sinic civs, despite being nominally Christian.
"You can't say that Poland or Slovakia deserve to be considered European/ western countries and denied Russia's close links with western culture."
I was born and grew up in russia and I most emphatically deny the validity of your quoted statement. Barbari sunt, barbarice egit.

[pppp]

"Orthodox civ in this regard is an intrinsically despotic civilization, and belongs squarely with islamic and sinic civs, despite being nominally Christian."
"Orthodox civ" is not limited to Russia. You would have known this if you really have grown up in Russia. I suppose that Greeks will disagree with you statement about "orthodox civ".
I don't dispute that Russia is on authoritarian site, but its cultural references are closer to western civilization. Anyone, who says, that Russia is culturally close to Islamic or Sinic civilization doesn't have a clue about any of them. Sorry.
Cultural references and political system are not synonyms. Fact that UE with its ludicrous bureaucracy begin to resemble imperial China doesn't mean, that these countries have similar roots or cultural references.