I expect you are right, that Russia was not in a fit state after the fall of Communism to create such a state. But it is too bad, considering that several small

I expect you are right, that Russia was not in a fit state after the fall of Communism to create such a state. But it is too bad, considering that several smaller ex-Soviet states were able to, one way and another, form functioning governments that aren't one-man states. Heck, even one-party states seem to do a bit better- they occasionally change leadership, implement reforms, and even implement some sort of simulacrum of politics, even if it's all internal party jostling.