Um, “cult of personality” is a term that Khrushchev used to criticize Stalin without criticizing the system that created him.  It’s not as though Putin hasn’t been hard at work creating his own personality cult, anyway.  And I presume that even in Putin’s Russia it’s illegal to steal votes to win an election.   But he’s probably right that there aren’t any labor camps to be seen these days.  Beating and torturing difficult opponents in prison, yes, but labor camps, no.

“I don’t see any elements of Stalinism here. Stalinism is linked to the cult of personality, massive legal violations, repressions and labor camps.” (URL)