I'm not aware that anyone considers Russia to be a democracy, no. It's clearly not. Perhaps some people on the inside, brainwashed by state propaganda, believe erroneously that it's a democratic country.

The greatest strength of a true democracy is that leaders are held accountable, and can be replaced in an election. Putin is utterly unaccountable within Russia, and will remain in power for as long as he wants to, unless removed by force.