Well that is for sure one of the things I would like to debate with PW when sitting on a nice terrace in Moscow. If you see how quickly Moscow changed (for the good) under the current mayor Sobyanin it is clear that the 'elected' power in Russia has real power to change.I have huge respect for Putin and what he did for his country.
However when it comes to Putin (and the governement) it is worth to think of everything he is not doing for his country whilst he has the power to do so. Russia (and Putin) had a lot of benefit of the boost of petrol prices and the natural jump a country makes ones it hits the bottom. However no structural measures have taken to bring stability and real growth to the country. I will even not discuss corruption and democracy. Though the latter is overestimated and something for which most people here are not ready.
Where I do respect for is that in a country where people have no respect for anyone except there very close circle of friends/family there is no chaos.
The strong hand and leadership still works when you need to control the wild nature .
liabatyd
ps: hot girls here