I think Russia does not have as developed PR system as US does.
Russia does have a PR machine. It is the state run media.
Sorry to disappoint you but we have virtually no state-run media.
The most of russian media are private held companies and autonomous organizations. Notorious exception is the "1st Channel", which is declared as a private held company too but 51% of shares are owned by state.
Actually I miss some really state controlled TV channels, because the modern private held mass media are filled by commercials, shitty TV shows and other useless
crap. Even the "1st Channel" is filled by the stupid commercials about everything. That's the reason why I don't have TV anymore.
but the problem is that russia is an oligarchy, and rich people are bound to have ties to the state. it's similar to here in the U.S.
who
doesn't think roger ailes, rupert murdoch, shelden adelson, george soros, et. al don't have direct connections with our politicians?
i do think american politics runs under more of a guise of "free speech and democracy," while still being state-influenced.. at least compared to other countries.