Russia is struggling because it is a dictatorship. Do you honestly believe Putin was elected to office? Get real. His opponents are often jailed, despite being billionaires.
Putin will remain in control of Russia until his death, and someone just like him will take his place.
I have traveled Russia, and many just do not know what goes on there. Much of Russia is governed by people in the Communist Party. While most of the country have torn down the Lenin statues with his arm extended, in Stavropol, where my wife comes from, Lenin stands in one of the main squares...still. Communism is alive and well in Russia, particularly at the local level.
I met with about 15 journalists touring the USA years ago, when Putin was in his first term, and they were asked if they had the freedom to report on their politicians. No one verbally responded to the questions, but two or three shook their head side to side ever so gently to indicate that the answer was a definitive no. They did not dare verbalize their response. And if you pay attention, those journalists opposing Putin end up very dead.
Russia has zero chance to improve under Putin. His replacement should not bring anything better either.
