I wouldn't call CIA's track record too open and democratic though.
It's not Russian services running secret prisons, applying systematic torture as interrogating measure, arming muzzie scum. Since Stalin of course.
Russia has been there when USA was not even a blink in British colonialists eye so you have some catch up to do to outlive the "Russian system one bullet away from collapse".
About the dictatorship... there are six (6) parties currently having reps in Russian parliament. The two-party system is much more vulnerable to inside wheeling and dealing than European style multi-party system. Small parties get basically no TV time in US media. It's all about the big establishment parties. In Russia the small parties are on TV doing debates on election time. I don't know how USA has nerve to complain that small parties get too little visibility in Russian media. Where is the visibility for small parties on your media 
Putin himself has called the Russian system "guided democracy". It certainly can't be called dictatorship, yet it's not developed democracy either.
Your establishment even got mad in their report because RT staged a debate for the two less visible candidates... the green lady and that guy who didn't know what is Aleppo.
The American political system is quite corrupt, I agree with that. Way too much influence from "special interests" too.
It's standard practice for CIA to try to mess with other countries in order to serve American interests, as the third superpower, China probably does that too.
If something happens to Putin, a very instable situation might occur, like a powerstruggle or groups opposing each other all eying the many billions that can be made (= stolen) when you "lead" Russia. Putin and his clan are extremely rich, even though they only have a relatively small income officially
Just saw a small part of the Trump press conference, that guy is going to give media the best years ever :-)
His presidency will not be boring, that's for sure :-)
