Russia was a democracy that, in less then a decade completely fell apart economically. Putin, and the rising price of oil can be credited for stabilizing the country, and largely pulling it out of a dystopian horror show.

Freedom and democracy is nice, but having the means to buy bread, and not being robbed and killed by desperate people is even nicer.

Edit: I presume the downvotes aren't coming from people who lived in Russia through the 90s.