As a political science expert with a focus on international relations and comparative politics, I've spent a significant amount of time studying the political systems of various countries, including Russia. The question of whether Russia is a democracy or a republic is a nuanced one that requires an understanding of both the theoretical definitions of these terms and the practical application of these principles within the Russian context.

Democracy, in its most basic form, refers to a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. It often involves free and fair elections, protection of individual rights, and the rule of law.

Republic, on the other hand, is a form of government where the country is considered a "public matter" and the head of state is an official elected or nominated (other than by hereditary succession), serving for a term with limited powers. It is characterized by the absence of a monarch and often includes a separation of powers.

According to the constitution of the Russian Federation, which was adopted in 1993, Russia is indeed declared a democratic federal republic. This means that, in theory, it combines elements of both a democracy and a republic. The constitution outlines a representative democracy where power is exercised by the people through their elected representatives. It also establishes a federation, which means that power is distributed between the national government and the territorial entities, such as the republics, krais, oblasts, cities of federal importance, an autonomous oblast, and autonomous okrugs that make up the Russian Federation.

However, it is important to note that the practical implementation of these principles can vary significantly from the theoretical framework. In Russia's case, there have been concerns and criticisms regarding the level of democracy in practice. For instance, there have been allegations of electoral fraud, restrictions on opposition parties, and a centralization of power that has raised questions about the true extent of democratic processes.

The fundamental basis of the Russian state, as stated in the constitution, includes the principles of representative democracy and a federation of both national and territorial autonomous entities. This suggests that each part of the federation has a certain degree of autonomy, and the people have the right to elect their representatives at various levels of government.

In conclusion, while the Russian constitution describes the country as a democratic federal republic, the actual practice of democracy within Russia has been a subject of debate. The principles of democracy and republicanism are enshrined in the legal framework, but the extent to which these principles are realized in practice is a matter of ongoing discussion and scrutiny.

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According to the constitution, Russia was declared a democratic federal republic. The fundamental basis of the state was representative democracy and federation of both national and territorial autonomous oblasts.read more >>