The natural state of human society is fear and oppression, it’s been that way for millennia (and further). Rather than Russia being the exception, it’s more a wonder, a miracle, that the West ever managed to cultivate democracy, liberalism and reduction in corruption in the first place. Not that it’s perfect, far from it, and in fact it’s backsliding at the moment, but holding power to account, making it follow the law, is a thoroughly European thing as far as history goes. A tradition that Russia only just skirts the edges of.