[stiga bey]

"I do not care if Putin centralizes authority to a degree. So long as there is general freedom for religion, political dissent, and entrepeneurship, Russia could regain much of the position it had under the czars even if Putin is authoritarian."

While it certainly isn't as bad as, say, Pakistan, Russia has none of those three qualities that you mention. Non-Orthodox Christian faiths are considered cults and many are legally persecuted or even banned outright. While you could probably sit in a bar and say what you want about the government much fear of reprisal, you will lose your job and be blacklisted if you are a journalist and say something against Putin. And the state is simply one huge kleptocracy--there is no free enterprise worth mentioning.

Even if none of those things bother you and you don't mind letting Putin "centralize authority to a degree", you should still be concerned about who comes after Putin now that he has eliminated most if not all of the check-and-balance mechanisms in the government. Assuming that he is really our friend, he is nonetheless paving the way for another tyrant.

[ImpeachandRemove]

I might have mis-spoke a little mentioning "freedom of religion". US style, full blown freedom of religion is not a requirement in my book... it never existed under the czars. What I really want is for Christianity (Russian Orthodoxy is OK with me) to displace the atheism of the commie era. I love the way they rebuilt the gigantic cathedral in Red Square that Stalin demolished.

I read the online Russki press and it's quite free-wheeling. For example the Moscow Times.

I understand there is quite a bit of entrepeneurship in Russia right now... people starting up little businesses... a thriving "informal sector". Yes there are problems with government interference with and shaking down of the bigger enterprises. But the economic jackboot appears to be lifted off the common person. Correct me if you know different.