often brutalising them in the process

Source?

with more than 11,000 people now packed into cells

Source? rbc.ru says it's 3.7 thousand.

and the Russian economy hanging by a thread

No, it's US and its client states are started and continuing waging economic war through various means such as sanctions. Thankfully that helped to significantly boost domestic agricultural industry.

The bravery of protesters in red, seeking to expose a ruling elite that has gorged on the system, is thrilling.

No, it was a protest straight-up financed through foreign investment just like any other colouring revolution. And now it's being used just like BLM movement in use (see recent Time article on that - https://time.com/5936036/secret-2020-election-campaign/).

I would love to see a better and more effective government in Russia. However it doesn't looks like a foreign puppet Navalny, the one similar to Guaido or Tikhanovskaya, would keep people's interests in mind if got a chance to get any power. Thanks guys, you already helped Yeltsin to get a second term, that would be it - we'll go without your help or good intentions from now.