Is Putin using his powers to turn himself into an indirect dictator?

I am sure Putin's ambitions have few bounds - just look at the fabulous new presidential vehicles he's flaunted - but doubt if he would want to be talked of as a dictator: he is too wily. Dictator is not a term of praise, it's one of condemnation. He would surely want to be called A World Leader, or World's Most Powerful Figure.

He's managed to stay in power for almost two decades. He's held the line against Nato in the former Soviet Union and positioned himself as a dealmaker in the Middle East. Ironically, the Syrian ceasefires are due to Russia's interventions. Recent poisonings have rocked his image and Russia's economy is still poor while hand-picked persons for key roles were unsuccessful. All this will be a blight on Putin's future as an outright dictator.

Yes, I believe Putin is using his powers to turn himself into an indirect dictator. Vocabulary.com says a dictator is “someone who has absolute power — or who at least behaves as if they do by bossing others around.” A more traditional definition would include someone who assumes power and is not elected.

It’s true Putin was elected but other than that, he pretty much has absolute power because there are virtually no checks and balances on his actions. He does just about anything he wants. He controls the media, assassinates or jails his opponents, invades other countries, “spies” on his opponents, and rewards and punishes the Russian “oligarchs”.