More importantly, the Russian government doesn't know that this should be the norm. So they treat each attempt at a change as a treasonous coup or revolution, r

More importantly, the Russian government doesn't know that this should be the norm. So they treat each attempt at a change as a treasonous coup or revolution, rounding up and silencing everyone. I'm willing to bet they go as far as a civil war if they had to fight for their power. Having said that, when was the last time people got pissed off and gave the government the boot in a western country? It seems to me that any changes were minor, and the people in power are more or less the same group no matter who you vote for... not exactly super democratic, either...