After 70 years of communist dictatorship, the only feasible way Russian could even begin to become a democratically governed republic is, the current Kremlin dictatorship must be swept out 100%, including all the neo-Soviet leftover hacks from the old Soviet Iron Curtain days.
If there is going to be any headway made toward a complete abandonment of the communist past, those officials which were KGB functionaries, agents or Soviet (communist) era party officials must be forbidden from holding public office and or any leadership positions in the Russian armed forces due to the strong possibilities of these element attempting to stage a coup coupled with the fact this die hard element have their 'finger on the button.
Currently the Putin régime is very busy continuing its establishment of a anti-Western, Russian fascist dictatorship, in conjunction with cementing arms deals and strong political allies with America's and Israel's absolute worst enemies.
Putin is leading Russia down the dangerous dead end, to total war with former Moscow controlled independent (free) nations and inevitably NATO and America.
It terms of Russia under the current 'management', advancing toward real freedom is out of the question due to the likes of Putin as the head of state of the new Evil Empire.
America's needs to face the facts regarding Russia remaining America's and free world enemy. A serious threat which will have to be dealt with in the future, a future not too distant.