it is not entirely credible to credit the doubling of the Russian economy to the rise in the price of oil alone. Before Putin took over from Yeltsin, all of Russia's profit from the natural resources was ending up in the private banks outside of Russia. Putin repatriated the income from the Russian resources back into Russia which is far more responsible for the country's economic rise than the spike in the price of oil. After all, it would not have mattered how much oil co-s were making if their entire profit were to end up somewhere else. Most Russians know that. They also know that Nigeria-like scenario was shaping up in the beginning and mid 90s: a handful of oligarchs becoming ostentatiously rich while the rest would not see their salary for years. Perhaps ever.

That changed.

Russia loves a strong leader willing to defeat/destroy his/her opponents.

Putin fits this mold very well.
Stalin did.
Ivan the Terrible.
Lenin.
Trotsky.
And other monstors.