What happens when Putin is gone?

[WolfpackN64]

Johnw1104 said:

WolfpackN64 said:

Difference is Russia isn't the same as the USSR. It's not like United Russia will let the CPRF regain power (and they have cheated at the elections multiple times to do so, just like Boris Yeltsin did). Probably Putin wil groom someone to become his succesor and that person will probably be elected to office.

Yeah I didn't mean to suggest the two were really comparable in most ways, merely in that they're quickly graitating towards having power largely wielded by a single individual who eventually passes it on to a successor. Putin should not technically hold anywhere near the influence he does, but he's essentially established himself via friends occupying most of the important positions. 

I really do wonder if anyone could replace him, though... It's possible that when he's gone they'll revert to something more akin to what they had in the early 2000's.

Early 2000's? That's the start of Putin's presidency. Boris Yeltsin made so many mistakes that a western-style liberal democracy could never foster. Yeltsin himself was very anti-democratic in his mannerisms. If Yeltsin was even remotly fair in elections, the CPRF would have gottin into power and Russia would have been a very different place it is now.