Russia is OP. Here are some ideas.
First turn- Yikes! 16 cities, no improved resources and no workers! So I built a worker in every city (yes every one.) I also took Citizenship, I can get a worker right away, then finish the Liberty tree for a GG or GE (or GS maybe). It's tempting to finish Tradition but without faith the GP bonus is useless. Honor is also very tempting.
For Ideology I took Party Leader and Socialist Realism. With those I can pay my workers and grow cities without too much trouble.
So turn 1 - 30 happiness, 23 gpt and a worker in Moscow - a good start.
The situation so far (turn 81 - October 1928) 717 Science, 85 happiness and 564 gpt (in a GA - lots of GAs along the way).
All 7 trade routes are internal building up Moscow, Minsk, Stalingrad (my science city) and others. I don't need more gold.
Mostly done improving resources and getting railroads to all cities (still need to get Rostov and Tbilisi hooked up)
Conquered Baltic States, Poland and Eastern Europe. I will probably invade Germany soon.
Problems - other than the lame AI
Too many resources. Scale back the luxury resources. Maybe two of each at most, One might be better and fewer of them. Strategic resources are probably fine.
Start cities with smaller populations. Maybe 4 for Moscow 3 for Leningrad, Kiev and Stalingrad; two for everyone else.
Preselect Ideological Tenets. With 16 cities and a Monument already built in all cities Party Leader and Socialist Realism are OP. Select different ones to start, Make Russia work for those
One free policy choice should be fine.
Maybe add a a few workers in say Moscow and Leningrad.
If I think of anything else, I'll post it.