I think that the current government is culturally repressive just like it is politically repressive. The art scene there - from what little I know of it - is re-discovering its artists and religion repressed under the Soviet regime. The capitalist culture there - from what I have heard - is very decadent and perhaps does not support new art as much as it needs to. The capitalists seem to be focusing on conspicuous consumption of foreign cars and clothes. However, as some capitalists have been arrested for long periods because their wealth has made them too powerul for Putin, I presume that those with money are afraid to align themselves with artists who may have a critical view of society. Hence, Russian society has not recovered to the point that free enough for new novelists and other artists to thrive. And, it does not appear to be advancing in that direction under Comrade Putin.