Of course, Russia’s formal institutions of democracy remain in place; but, in the absence of a free press, an independent judiciary and free elections in the regions – where Kremlin cronies, like Ramzan Kadyrov in Chechnya, now hold sway – they have been hollowed out. Russians would rather have a “father of the nation,” no matter the title – czar, general secretary, president, or prime minister – than follow laws and rules.