You are wrong. If you are truly interested in what's happened there, Internet has plenty of information about that period - just go and read it. During his first term Putin's government implemented a number of successful economic reforms that boosted growth and helped to reallocate profits from oil and gas to support the economy. Those reforms continued what has started in 1990s, but they had to happen to enable real growth (esp. tax reform).

1. Tax reform: flat income tax of 13%, reduction in total number of taxes by 70%, reduction in social security tax, introduction of severance tax (captured 84% of profits from oil and gas in state budget)

2. Zero budget deficit and significant reduction of foreign debt

3. Reform of land ownership: created free market of the land

4. New Labor code and pension reform

5. Reform of banking sector and new bankruptcy law