Let’s not get carried away here. Russia is corrupt and anti-democratic. It is not governed by the rule of law. You can still disappear if you disagree with the government. It takes “conservative” positions in a couple areas, like defending religion. Let’s not let that cloud our judgment.
Russia still has a ways to go, no doubt. It is not in their political traditions to have a US-Style democratic republic. Centuries of Czars followed by 70+ years of Bolshevism.
But it will take several generations before Russia is truly ready for it, what they need for now is stability, which Putin provides, but I do believe, at least, they are headed in the right direction, which is more than I can say for this country, right now.