Over 100 years ago, Russia became core of USSR and the pioneer of international struggle for workers' liberation, poverty lifting, enlightenment, scientific progress and propagation of socialism and communism.
Now -- in my humble and maybe biased by liberal propaganda view -- Russia is one of the most reactionary, conservative, backward-looking, clerical country. Please excuse me posting some liberal, imperialist shit here, but seems that Kremlin officially admits going far-right: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/kremlin-finally-puts-together-ideology
Speaking locally, there seems to be evidence that Polish far-right party PiS (Law and Justice) is backed by Kremlin as well as the extremely influential priest, Tadeusz Rydzyk, founder and director of the ultra-catholic, conservative Radio Maryja station has/had ties with Polish and Russian security services before the end of People's Republic of Poland and USSR (sic!). I have some generally available videos, but in Polish, sadly.
Could you tell me how far this is true? If so, what purpose had the late communist states and today's Russia in spreading far-right propaganda? WTF went wrong?
Russia isn't communist, nor does it claim to be.
It's also not about morality, or GDP - it's about the goals a government sets itself. Do they want to proceed to a stateless, classless society, or are they simply concerned with good government and to make the country be stronger than the competition, be it through sword or construction?
It's hard to say where the winds are blowing in the CPC - United Russia, however, just wants a strong Russia.
As for the USSR's market turn, it's hard to say. Most people here would probably say Khrushcev due to the rejection of the necessity of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the policy of peaceful coexistence (in spite of the grand announcement of communism by 1980). Other communists would blame Stalin for say, having a more nationalistic policy than Lenin and his pragmatism in foreign policy matters. Of course, as the rot continued it became easier to see obvious liberals. The USSR probably started rejecting a planned economy in the Brezhnev era, with the Kosygin reforms. Of course, the question is - did the CPSU pursue communism then? Some undoubtedly did, while others were merely nationalistic technocrats.
I am aware that the market turn was a complex and unclear process, as well as deciding whether Stalin was personally leaned towards more nationalist policies or he was forced by the external factors is difficult (both things extremely interesting, but somewhat outside of the scope of this thread). Anyway, thank you for interesting answers comrade.