Fan of 'dictator's' criminal traits a little simple (7)

I believe the answer is:

tsarist

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'fan of dictator's criminal traits a little simple' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'criminal traits a little simple' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'a little' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'simple' is 's'.
'traits'+'s'='traitss'
'traitss' with letters rearranged gives 'TSARIST'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tsarist that I've seen before include "Russian monarchist" , "Like Russia once" , "Russian royalist" , "Russian emperor's supporter" , "Of emperors of old Russia" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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