According to
www.bloomberg.com Putin come down hard against bitcoin by calling for more regulations.
The use of cryptocurrencies bears serious risks, which include money laundering, tax evasion and terrorism funding, Putin said at a conference in Sochi.
Source: https:///news/articles/2017-10-10/putin-is-said-to-hold-first-meeting-on-cryptocurrency-rules
Why would anyone be surprised by it? Russia is under a authoritarian government. Wherein people don't have personal freedom. And having bitcoin or cryptocurrencies is a threat to them. They are just hiding for reasons like they mentioned, but in reality they want to control everything and bitcoin is de-centralized for all we know. And since China (communism) has started to waged war against bitcoin, so don't be shock that Russia will follow the lead of China. Though the persons that are being harm here in the bitcoin community in Russia wherein it is very active as you can see in the forum.