In the article, possible scenarios of Russia’s development in the nearest and medium-term perspective are discussed. Pointing to the necessity of shifting the center of gravity in the reflections on this subject from normative-value approach to concrete-historical one, the author expresses the idea that the main thing for the comprehension of the condition, problems and prospects of Russian democracy is to ascertain the corridor of really existent political options. It’s none other than the corridor of options conditioned by historical experience, traditions, mode of living, particular features of political culture and of mentality, that should determine, as the author considers, the direction of the search for the democratic development model adequate to the Russian conditions. At that, a country’s search for its way and for its democracy model is not equivalent to going into its national shell. Experience of other societies, first of all of countries with advanced democracy, is greatly important, it’s necessary to study and assimilate it. But success of democracy directly depends on the country’s getting aware of its own corridor of options (and on finding relevant modes of their realization) and therefore its analysis must be given indisputable priority.