There is even such a term – "media-controlled democracy," which is exactly what exists in the USA and Europe. That is, a monopoly of a limited number of media owners on the broad coverage of all more or less important issues for the state. This allows them to shape public opinion and election results in the desired way.
In Russia, they have not yet reached such a level of brainwashing technology, so they have to use "administratively controlled democracy," which is a slightly more primitive version, although it is more honest towards society.
How are authoritarian regimes better than democracy?
The lack of the possibility to change the government in elections?
The lack of fair courts?
The presence of political prisoners?
Well, yes, in the 21st century, all these regimes do not say, as in the Middle Ages, that they will treat the people as they please, but they talk about how democratic they are.