and Russia was previously socialist and communist

The current Russian regime uses heavy Anti-Soviet messaging, and demonizes socialism as much as American conservative politics. The USSR wasn't great for a lot of Russians.

Also they say they don't like government to control things

I think emphasis here needs to be on "they say", yet most non-economic policy American conservatives tout (aka the culture wars) is about injecting more government intervention in the day to day lives of Americans. Ex: Christian Prayer in schools, banning books from libraries, anti-drag bills, banning racial-inequality education, anti-gay legislation, the list goes on and on. American conservatives would love as much control over their population as Russia exerts on theirs.

They hate on NPR and call it state sponsored

Which fits their narrative, when in reality NPR only receives around 5% of government funding. They don't like NPR because they aren't easily able to be bought due to being largely crowd funded and won't immediately parrot their talking points. They would love a state funded media company that parroted their talking points which Fox News comfortably does.

If American conservatives actually believed the their talking points then yes they would be vehemently anti-Russian, but they don't. They're only pro-power which the Russian government has figured out within their borders.

Also they say they don’t like government to control things

They don't like not their government to control things.