Absolutely. The very best criticism to the Russian system can be found, unsurprisingly, from inside Russia.
The notion that there is no independent media there is also a gross exaggaration, even if it is a dark place for freedom of press.
Russia is not one thing, it's a large country full of contradictions. (Not unlike China or the US in that sense.) It's in a dark place right now, and mostly going the wrong way. The current regime stinks, and they have been effective in brainwashing notable segments of the population.
But most of the people there are just regular people, not significantly different from average Joe Canadian. There is also a lot of very interesting, challenging and forward-looking culture and political discussion in Russia, always has been. (They have a pretty cool music scene btw, although it's tough to crack for a foreigner.)
To deny the existence of everyone but those people who are the problem really just hurts the people who are trying to change the country for the better.
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