Those Durn Russkies

Having come across this exchange over the mess in Russia, I submit the following:

In fairness to Putin (who I don't particulaly like or trust), he's had a formidable job in pulling together a rather large country on the verge of collapsing into anarchy. I remember another head of state who suspended civil liberties and even sent out soldiers to shoot their countrymen, all in an effort to hold together a cumbling nation. He also took his share of heat - eventually he paid with his life...

So, is it hypocritical to bash Putin for essentially doing what Lincoln did?