He controls all law enforcement and mass media, restricts freedom of speech, prosecutes political competition, enables corruption and connections-with-benefits, and has everyone eat this crap because patriotism.

I struggle to recall a soviet era without these traits.

Why not rattle off every fascist and authoritarian regime, then? Why not say he's acting the corrupt autocrat, i.e. every bad guy in every civilization since pre-history.

And he's an chekist

I see him as more of a puppet to be honest, though I'm more than likely wrong, still it seems like he is just a puppet.